Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

That is not what any of the reports say. It is brand-new information to us that there is asbestos in the hospital. Until now, all we have been told is that the State does not own it. It is owned by the HSE, which, it transpires, is the biggest land hoarder in the State, with over 300 empty properties, some of which I know of in my constituency. People have been described as racists and there are those who are trying to stir up trouble, and they certainly do so. I see their bile and hatred all the time on social media. Their argument is that Ireland is full and, therefore, we cannot take in any more refugees. The opposite could not be truer. Ireland is in no way full, in particular because of the properties and houses lying empty throughout the State. With 164,000 empty houses in the State and 2,000 families in emergency accommodation, of whom 57% are single-parent families, we can calculate that for every one family, there are 65 empty houses. For every man, woman or child who is in homeless accommodation, there are 12 empty properties in this State. Those figures are shocking. When we see the level of State-owned property that is lying empty, it is clear that there should not be a housing crisis for any man, woman or child, there should not be 4,000 homeless children growing up in emergency accommodation, there should not be 14,000 people in emergency accommodation and nobody should be sleeping in tents on the side of the road, and I mean nobody. I do not care where people are from; immigrants and people who come here in big numbers seeking our protection need to be helped and protected.

The empty buildings and resources are there. The Minister stated he will announce a new project next week which will take State-owned properties and ensure there is enough accommodation available. I am dying to hear that announcement. He said he is hopeful this can be achieved in a few months. The Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, made statements four years ago that empty properties would be freed up but they have not been. There is a problem with the way the Government is dealing with this. The Minister should acknowledge it and help us to deal with the fact that hatred of people who are brown and black is rising in communities because of the filth and lies that are being spread about them.

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