Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

After 100 years of independence, there were 10,514 people homeless in Ireland in the week of 21 to 27 October 2019 according to Focus Ireland. This figure includes adults and children. The number of homeless families has increased by 380% since October 2014. Shame on the Government and the Minister. In October 2019, there were 3,826 children in emergency homeless accommodation with their families. More than one in three people in emergency accommodation are children. The Taoiseach said Santa would find them wherever they are. Santa will have a job getting into some of their accommodation. At the end of October, there were 909 young people, that is, adults aged under 25 years, living in emergency homeless accommodation. This number does not include hidden homelessness, which refers to people who are living in squats or are sofa surfing with friends. Furthermore, women and children staying in domestic violence refuges are not included in the homeless emergency accommodation figures. The national figure also does not include people who are sleeping rough.

Last Tuesday, the Central Bank of Ireland stated that this year approximately 21,000 houses will be built, a number that is viewed as far too low and which will contribute to the ongoing imbalance in Ireland's residential property market. The Central Bank says that 34,000 houses will have to be built each year for the next decade just to meet demand. Some years ago I proposed a national solidarity bond in memory of the late Brian Lenihan. It was implemented and worked through An Post. It raised a considerable amount of money. The national solidarity bond is a 1% per year plus bonuses plan. There should be a national building bond. There are enormous resources in this country and an enormous amount of savings. The rate of interest today is 0.25%. If we wish to bring something imaginative forward to raise €100 million, €200 million, €1 billion or €2 billion from the public, I am confident the bond would be subscribed to and could be distributed to the local authorities. It would create a building boom throughout the country.

In the 1930s and 1940s, Fianna Fáil Governments built constantly. They built up the towns and villages. I was a beneficiary of that in the 1940s when my parents moved into a local authority house. Now we are running away from this and I cannot understand it. When I was a councillor in the 1970s we built hundreds of houses in well designed estates in Roscommon town. I appeal to the Government to tackle this issue. It must be a national emergency. Regardless of what Government takes over next year, and there will be a change of Government, the Taoiseach will have to take full responsibility and control and organise Ministers to give this the priority it deserves.