Paul Gavan (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister. I do not really have a speech, just a few points I wanted to make to supplement what my colleague, Senator Devine, spoke about earlier. I have to mention Limerick city because each week I hold a clinic there and it is shocking to meet families who have been in homeless accommodation month after month. There are currently 111 homeless children in Limerick, living in one room across a range of hotels. One meets people who are out of hope and are so desperate that one worries about what measures they might take. People come into our clinic and we worry if they will still be there next week because they are literally at the end of their tether. Sometimes people come in and are angry, and when we talk to them and they understand the situation and challenges, they tell us about the impact on their relationships, children and partners. I am not claiming that we are the only ones to experience this. I think we all do. It is truly shocking that six and a half years into Fine Gael Governments, the crisis continues to get worse. The other day the Leader blamed Fianna Fáil, and do not get me wrong, I am happy to blame Fianna Fáil on occasion but after six and a half years, the Government is going to have to come up with something better.