Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The most recent homeless figures in November were startling. They showed 13,514 people in homelessness. Of those, 4,105 were children. Of course, these figures mask the real nature of homelessness in the State because they do not consider those in hostels and rough sleepers. When those people are added, there are probably more than 20,000 who are homeless. In Limerick, 361 adults are availing of the department of emergency accommodation. Across the mid-west, 91 families with 149 dependent children are availing of such accommodation. These are startling figures.

Homelessness is something the Government has failed to prevent. It can be said that its failed housing policies have exacerbated this crisis. Since it took office, homelessness has increased by 61% and child homelessness by 74%. It is shameful that the Government has allowed things to get so bad for our citizens. Under its stewardship, there are record house prices, record rent increases and a record level of homelessness. In Limerick city, property prices are beyond the reach of many working families. We have seen a year-on-year increase of almost 10% in property prices with the average house now costing approximately €300,000, which is unaffordable for most working families. For those who try to rent in Limerick, there was a 21% increase in rents in quarter 3 of 2023, with the average two-bedroom property costing €1,400 per month. With these costs, is it any wonder more and more people have to seek emergency accommodation?

There are things that can be done to stem the tide of homelessness. These are things that should have been done long before now. The Government could increase and deliver Housing First tenancy targets, reintroduce the temporary ban on no-fault evictions, the lifting of which has catastrophically increased homelessness numbers, and it could expand and increase the tenant in situ scheme, which, to be fair, is a good scheme.

As the Minister of State knows, the weather in Limerick is pretty bad, as it is throughout the country. Homelessness services told me today that they are turning away people from emergency accommodation because there is nowhere for them to sleep. They are doing that every single day. Something needs to be done. There needs to be an intervention specifically on that issue.

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