Kathleen O'Meara (Labour)

I am happy to second the motion and, like Senator Ryan, I am very disappointed with the Government parties' amendment because they should have no problem with our motion. However, it is opportune, as the budget approaches and as we experience one of the worst days weather-wise we have had in a long time, that we should discuss the homelessness issue and review the current position. It would be great to say progress is being made, which the Government has attempted to do in its amendment but, unfortunately, that is not the case.

The number of homeless people has doubled since 1996. In 2002, 5,581 people were homeless, 87% of whom were to be found in urban areas. Those who sleep on the street visibly demonstrate homelessness but Focus Ireland points out that there is more than one category of homelessness. The organisation refers to the visible homeless sleeping rough on the street and those who stay in emergency accommodation in shelters but it also highlights the hidden homeless, who comprise individuals and couples who are forced to share accommodation with relatives, such as young couples who cannot afford to rent or buy and must live at home or with friends or people in insecure or substandard accommodation.

Despite recent legislative changes which attempted to bring landlords into line and address substandard accommodation, that is not happening. In addition, people are at risk of homelessness because of economic difficulties, for example, if rent becomes too expensive or if they experience health difficulties, marital breakdown or mental illness. Inevitably, some of these people will become homeless because the triggers for homelessness are poverty, marital breakdown, employment loss and mental ill-health. The necessary progress on this issue has not been made and new problems are emerging, such as homelessness among the migrant community. A number of immigrants have travelled to Ireland to earn a living but they have not succeeded and they have found themselves in straitened circumstances similar to Irish people in London and other cities during periods of significant migration.

I represent an area that does not experience homelessness to the same extent as Dublin or Cork but it lurks in the background. I am occasionally approached, like other public representatives, by individuals and couples who have nowhere to live because they cannot continue to stay with a relative or friend or their rented accommodation is being sold and they cannot obtain suitable replacement accommodation. They ask what I can do and, in many cases, they are accommodated in bed and breakfasts and hotels. That is a short-term measure, which is not suitable for children, in particular. The average time spent in emergency bed and breakfast accommodation has increased from only 20 days in 1993 to 18 months in 2006. There is widespread use of such accommodation, which is expensive for the taxpayer and which is not appropriate for the people involved. It may be considered a short-term solution but it is not in many cases. It does not work and it highlights that there is a serious underlying problem.

The shortage of affordable rented accommodation is a contributory factor. The cost of housing has shot through the roof because of the property boom and rented accommodation is expensive, especially for those on low incomes. All groups working in this area, such as Focus Ireland and the Simon Community, point to the need for affordable rented accommodation as an essential in any strategy to tackle homelessness.

In 2000 the Government launched Homelessness — An Integrated Strategy. A review conducted on behalf of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government on the implementation of the strategy stated progress was mixed. For instance, the establishment of night shelters was recommended but that has been a hit and miss initiative. New shelters have not been established in the northern suburbs of Dublin city, despite the need for them. A new wave of homelessness is being experienced by the immigrant community and victims of domestic violence.

I refer to the link between mental illness and homelessness. As we know, there is a move away from large institutional care for people with mental illnesses. In general, our community must support that move, but it does not work for a number of people. Given that in many parts of the country, including north County Tipperary, the services on the ground are insufficient to meet the needs of people with mental illnesses, people will inevitably fall through the cracks. People with mental illnesses must be considered as one of the most vulnerable groups in terms of being prone to homelessness.

No examinations of the issues around mental ill health and psychiatric care can be complete without an examination of the implications for people who become homeless. This is the last point I have time to make and I thank the Acting Chairman for the opportunity to speak. I also thank Senator Ryan for tabling this important motion. I ask that Government parties support the motion because it is not too late to do so.