Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The February figures for homelessness showed that 5,653 children are without a home. Child homelessness has deep and lasting impacts on children's lives and well-being. It is associated with childhood poverty. The tenant in situ scheme was a key measure brought in by Government that sought to address the root causes of child and family homelessness and enable people to stay in their homes as social tenants yet it has simply become ineffective in protecting families and children from homelessness. The Irish Times reported yesterday on a young woman with children aged three months and 18 months who is facing homelessness because of unnecessary restrictions on the tenant in situ scheme. She is on HAP. Her landlord is happy to sell to the council and does not want to see a family made homeless but the home does not qualify as it has not been in HAP for two years. Across the country, many of us are hearing stories of families being excluded from the scheme because of changes that have been made and a smaller allocation for the scheme. On the Taoiseach's watch, child homelessness is at record highs and rising and it is shameful to see this. The tenant in situ scheme was one measure to seek to address and alleviate child homelessness. Will the Taoiseach reconsider the changes that have been made and ensure that families will be protected and that the scheme will become effective to secure people in their homes?

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