Patricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I raise the issue of homelessness in Kildare. Two weeks ago, five people had to spend the night in Newbridge Garda station because they had no emergency accommodation to go to. I thank the Garda for its help. The very same week, we had Storm Kathleen. While we are told winter beds are available until the end of April, this was not the case. When I made inquiries as to why there was no availability, I was told people from Meath and Dublin were being accommodated in County Kildare. I do not care what county or country people come from – I welcome all – but I want to know why there is no supply. Most of the people affected are very vulnerable. That local authorities would tell people at 5 p.m. to ring an emergency line is not good enough. It is an absolute cop-out because the local authorities know full well that there is no emergency accommodation. I want to know how we are going to resolve this.

I do not want the Taoiseach to tell me about HAP accommodation because that is another story entirely. It is unfit for purpose in most areas, where landlords are gaining a huge amount of people’s expense.

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