Aideen Hayden (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I add my voice to those who have wished our colleague, Senator Jimmy Harte, a happy and successful retirement. All of us in this Chamber had hoped to see him back among us before the House rose for the last time. Like me, he is a graduate of University College Dublin, UCD. We all know that he is a man with a very strong moral compass and with a very strong voice when it comes to supporting the national soccer team. I wish him the absolute best.

I thank Senator Katherine Zappone for her words about the first annual report of the Threshold Dublin tenancy protection service. In the first year of its operation the service was responsible for preventing 2,808 people, including over 1,600 children, from entering homeless services. I, therefore, support the call for a debate on housing generally because the issue of housing supply is critical but also on the ongoing problem of homelessness, the level of which continues to rise at an enormous rate. The report contains many recommendations, one of which needs to be acted on immediately, that the service be extended beyond the Dublin region. The problem of homelessness extends beyond the Dublin region. The service is also open in Cork and we hope to be able to open it in Galway. However, many areas surrounding large urban centres are also suffering significantly as a result of significant rent increases. I ask the Leader to arrange a serious debate on homelessness in early course.