Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Despite what the Minister has said, the numbers of adults, children, families and pensioners in emergency accommodation rises under his watch. After his term of office, he will be known and remembered as the Minister for homelessness. He is selectively quoting figures when his own Department tells us that the figures are increasing month on month and year on year. In the last 12 months, homelessness has increased by 15% overall. The most frustrating thing is that, despite the fact the Minister says this is his number one priority, there is nothing new on offer. He has not outlined any new or additional interventions he is going to take to bring these numbers down. What he has just said is that he is just going to carry on with the same failed policies. What has that done since he became Minister? It has driven the numbers up. If he wants to, in the few minutes he has left, the Minister could outline whether he will do anything different from what he has done to date to bring those numbers down in June, July, August and September if the numbers increase yet again tomorrow. If he does not, the numbers will continue to rise. Shame on you for that failure.

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