Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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59. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the steps he will take to address the rising levels of homelessness and in particular the unacceptably high levels of child homelessness. [24568/24]

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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Yesterday, the Dublin Inquirer reported that the Dublin Region Homeless Executive is seeking an additional 2,000 emergency beds for people experiencing homelessness here in Dublin. Yesterday, I was in Limerick with my colleague, Deputy Quinlivan. We met with Help the Homeless Limerick, NOVAS and other front-line homelessness service providers. They described a significant deterioration in the homelessness situation in the area with increases in the number of rough sleepers and people seeking emergency accommodation and a collapse in the number of exits from accommodation. In advance of the homelessness figures being published tomorrow, will the Minister tell us whether we expect to see yet another rise in all categories of homelessness?

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I have not seen the figures yet. We will publish them, as we do, for everyone to see. We have seen an increase in the number of exits from homelessness, which is welcome. People who find themselves in emergency accommodation are spending less time there and more are exiting into permanent secure homes. I assure the Deputy that supporting individuals and families facing homelessness remains a priority for me and for this Government.

Critical to supporting households to exit homelessness is supporting supply. That is why almost 12,000 new social homes were delivered last year through build, acquisition and leasing. This figure includes 8,110 new-build homes, the highest number in nearly 50 years. When HAP and RAS are included, 21,733 social housing solutions were delivered in 2023. Our big focus is on increasing the stock and the supply. That is why the €5 billion we are investing in housing this year is incredibly significant. The results of this funding will include the delivery of 9,300 new-build homes. We have absolutely turned the dial and made a step change in the delivery of social housing. Funding for the purchase of homes where a tenant is in situ will continue through the course of this year. Last year, the homes of 1,830 people who were in insecure HAP or RAS tenancies were purchased and brought into the social housing stock. This year, we have provision to acquire at least 1,500 more. That is working through.

The budget allocation to fund homelessness services in 2024 is €242 million. That funding will support the provision of emergency accommodation and support households to exit from that accommodation and into a tenancy. Housing for All also includes measures to enhance family support and prevention and early intervention services for children and their families through a co-ordinated multiagency response.

On the regions, we are seeing a significant reduction in the number of those in emergency accommodation in the regions across the country. It is an acute issue in the Dublin region. The figures are broken down and that can be seen. In parts of the country, we are seeing a significant decrease because of the increase in housing stock that is coming in, particularly the 6,000 social homes we delivered in the last quarter of last year. These are facts, Eoin. The reality is that it is our number one priority to exit people into safe and secure social homes.

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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The Minister is absolutely correct that he has turned the dial and that there has been a step change. That step change is the most dramatic increase in child homelessness under any Minister in modern times. In Cork city, Limerick city, Waterford and Dublin, homelessness is rising. When Deputy O'Brien became Minister, there were just over 2,500 children in emergency accommodation funded by his Department; there are now over 4,000. It is not his number one priority. Frankly, it is dishonest to come into his House, month after month, and say it is his number one priority when the figures tell us that the numbers are going in the wrong direction. The problem is that the number of people who are becoming homeless each month is greater than the number of people exiting emergency accommodation. That is why the figures are rising. How does the Minister sleep at night when he sees the figures published on the last Friday of every month? How does he go home to his family, his children and his secure roof and say that this is his number one priority? I suspect the numbers will go up yet again tomorrow. They will continue to go up because he not delivering a sufficient volume of social homes for the people who need them the most.

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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We are delivering more new social homes than the State has in over 50 years and we will do more than that again. Our plan is published and being implemented. It is happening. That is in stark contrast to the lack of any alternative. The Deputy has put nothing forward. In Cork county, there has been a 32% year-on-year reduction. In Longford, the reduction was 32% and, in Kildare, it was 22%. In Monaghan, it was 22% and, in Westmeath, it was 15%. There was also a 14% reduction in Offaly. The yearly increase in the number of exits from homelessness and preventions is 6,848. That is a 25% increase on the previous year. I do not need to be reminded of my responsibilities in this area.

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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I think you do.

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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Hold on; does the Deputy want to keep interrupting as he has done right the way through? I remind the Chair that he is independent today, regardless of his party affiliation.

Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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I have maintained that independence.

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The Chair has not asked Deputy Ó Broin to be quiet once.

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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Go on, Minister; talk down the clock.

Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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I have and, to be honest, the Minister is fairly good at cutting in himself. We will continue from here.

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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All I will say is that I am acutely aware of our responsibilities and the job we have to do to drive down the numbers in homeless emergency accommodation. I chair the national homeless action committee myself and I work with stakeholders. It is a complex issue. The Deputy knows that. People enter emergency accommodation for various different reasons. We are increasing the supply and we are exiting more people. We will continue to do that.

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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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.

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The key is increasing supply and social housing output in particular and providing additional supports for people, such as the purchase of homes with tenants in situ, which has been very successful and a really important preventative measure. We are delivering those additional homes. I meet people all across the country who are exiting emergency accommodation and who have secured permanent tenancies. I am not selectively quoting; I have given the Deputy facts. He will have his point of view or perspective on those.

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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I will also quote the Department's figures.

People need to understand Sinn Féin has produced nothing to say how it would-----

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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You are the Minister and homelessness is rising.

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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We have delivered 110,000 new homes-----

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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A 50% increase in child homelessness is what you have delivered.

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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Cathaoirleach, it is very difficult-----

Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Teachta Ó Broin, le do thoil. Lean ar aghaidh, a Aire.

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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Apologies, Chair.

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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Thank you. Our progress on housing is there to be seen. There are still-----

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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How is a 50% increase in child homelessness progress?

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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There are still significant-----

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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How is that progress?

Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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A Theachta, sin uilig.

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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Every single time I try to respond to a question, the Deputy opposite-----

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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You avoid the question.

Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Sin uilig.

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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This is a very important issue.

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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It is, and you should do something about it. You are the Minister. You are in charge. This is on you.

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I am not playing politics with it like you. You try to exploit problems and put nothing forward. All you want to do is exploit people's problems and difficulties.

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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No. I want you to do your job.

Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Now we are having a conversation. I think we will move on.

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I would say shame on you for that, Deputy Ó Broin.

Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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We will move on to the next question. Go raibh maith agaibh go léir.