Colette Kelleher (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I join Senator Catherine Ardagh in extending condolences to the families and loved ones of those killed so tragically in Iraq.

I concur with Senator Rose Conway-Walsh in support of the Civil Engagement group for the proposals set out by Family Carers Ireland this morning in its pre-budget submission, in which they seek to achieve fairness for family carers. It is undoubtedly the case that they are carrying the can for society. It is overdue that, as a state and a society, we weighed in with them. The need to put access to home care on a legislative footing was highlighted last week by the Alzheimer Society of Ireland and Family Carers Ireland has also called for this to happen, which we support.

I refer to the plight of people who are homeless. I worked for Cork Simon Community for eight years and it is a cause about which I care deeply. Since yesterday morning, a group of homeless persons have been occupying John's Lane West Hostel off Thomas Street, which is due to close this week. The group is protesting about the lack of replacement emergency beds. The hostel is closing because it is to be converted into apartments. However, the 42 residents of the hostel claim that no alternative accommodation has been provided for them and they are worried about their future. They have little and that little is disappearing. One of the residents is a woman by the name of Rosemary Hughes. She is visually impaired and has a guide dog. She has lived in the hostel for the past three months. Yesterday, she said:

I'm not going anywhere until this is sorted ... we want suitable accommodation; we want respect and we want to be treated like human beings ... people are really worried asthey don't have a bed for tomorrow night.

Rosemary who said she had "slept in almost doorway in Grafton Street" was placed in the hostel after being attacked on the streets. In John's Lane she said: "It's the first time I've had my own room and it feels like forever." Asked what she would do if she lost her bed, she said she would have to "go back to sleeping in the doorway of BT2 with Quilla," her dog.

The hostel is owned by Focus Ireland and operated by the Peter McVerry Trust. It first opened in the winter of 2014 as part of the emergency response to the death of Mr. Jonathan Corrie who died on the streets outside Leinster House. The Government must do everything it can to provide suitable long-term housing for homeless persons like Rosemary. In the short term, with others, she must be provided with an alternative emergency bed this week. Similar to the closure of John's Lane West hostel, the Dublin Simon hostel on Harcourt Street is due to close and there are strong objections to the replacement service on Fitzwilliam Square, putting even more emergency beds at risk. In May 102 people were sleeping rough in Dublin, an increase of 12% since last November. This is on top of the 4,262 people in emergency beds, of whom approximately 1,800 are children. Senators and Deputies must ensure the energy and momentum for change generated in the aftermath of the general election are not lost and that the recent recommendations of the Committee on Housing and Homelessness are implemented. They include the provision of 50,000 social housing units, rent certainty, security of tenure and ensuring no homeless shelters are closed until alternative accommodation is found. Before the John's Lane West and Harcourt Street hostels are closed permanently, Rosemary and other residents should be provided with safe and secure alternative accommodation. I would be grateful if the Leader would raise this urgent issue directly with the Minister responsible before tomorrow.