Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am delighted to have an opportunity to address the Leader this morning. He will recall that nine days ago I raised the issue of 17 homeless women in Dublin who are pregnant. It is a scandal. It has taken me a week to get one media outlet to cover this story. I compliment the journalist, Philip Ryan, of the Irish Independent, for covering it. I have met with some of these young women who are pregnant and homeless. Some of them are living in squats, in tents behind homes or on sofas. Other Senators mentioned the issue earlier. Cura, an agency that helps pregnant women, has only four places available. The situation is desperate. I have written to the Taoiseach but got no response. I have written to the Minister for Health but got no response. I wrote to the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government and got an acknowledgement. I met him, but nine days later nothing has been done. One of these girls is due to give birth three days from now. Where does she go? It is bad enough to be pregnant and homeless, but imagine being homeless with a new baby. One of these women has diabetes but she has no place to store the insulin. She has to be out of the hostel at 9 o'clock in the morning. It is unsustainable. I am delighted the Cathaoirleach is giving me the opportunity to speak. The House will sit next week. I ask the Leader to help us get an emergency response, priority one status, to provide supportive accommodation for these women.