Paul Gavan (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Cathaoirleach may remember that just two weeks ago, I raised the shocking increase in homelessness in the State based on the July figures. Unfortunately, we saw the August figures on Friday and they are truly shocking, with 10,805 people who are homeless. That is an increase of 237 on the previous month. That number includes 3,220 children, which is an increase of 83, and 1,483 families, which is an increase of 60. Each month, the figures get worse. We are now heading for an official homeless figure of 11,000 people across the State. That does not include thousands of people who are effectively homeless, sleeping on couches, surfing across various apartments and so on. It does not include people in direct provision who cannot leave because of the state of the housing emergency.

I want to make a clear call that the Government must act. It must do what the Scottish Government did. It banned evictions for the winter. We know what happened when the ban on evictions was lifted. There was a significant increase in homelessness. The situation is getting worse each month. The winter ahead will be disastrous unless there a fundamental change in Government policy happens now. I call for an urgent debate on this issue. Life is about choices. If we do not take action now, these figures will continue to increase even more rapidly than they are at the moment.I know that because more people who have been handed eviction notices are presenting to my office in Limerick every day. We can either pretend it is not happening or we can recognise that it is and take urgent action to protect families and children, and finally begin to get to grips with the housing crisis. I call for an urgent debate on that matter.

I also wish to raise the plight of the Shannon Heritage workers. I worked on this issue with SIPTU a couple of years ago. I thought we had fixed the issue. They were, effectively, going to be transferred to Clare County Council. They need between €4 million and €5 million in funding because there has been no investment in key sites, such as Bunratty Castle and the Cliffs of Moher, for several years. Unbelievably, those workers were forgotten about in last week's budget. Even the people in Clare County Council were expecting an announcement and, frankly, I am flabbergasted. The Government has completely dropped the ball on this matter. Workers are now facing into another uncertain winter, and an uncertain future, in respect of their livelihoods. This matter should have been resolved a couple of years ago. SIPTU members have stood defiantly, trying to find a secure future for these important tourist attractions. The Government has dropped the ball. It is not acceptable and even now, I am calling on the Government to act to secure the future for those workers and important tourism sites.