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THE NUMBER OF families who are homeless has increased by 20 to 1,728 last month, the latest figures show. Of the 20 families who became homeless, one family was in Dublin and 19 of them were across the country.
Emergency accommodation numbers, compiled by the Department of Housing, show that there were 9,968 people living in homeless accommodation last month, an increase of 244 people on October’s figures.
That represents an increase of “158 adults and 86 dependents”; the Department said that there had also been a decrease in the number of families presenting themselves to homeless services in Dublin “where the challenge is most difficult”.
Approximately 182 beds for those sleeping rough were added to the system.
Commenting on the figures, Minister for Housing Eoghan Murphy said:
It is very disappointing to see more children in emergency accommodation as we enter into Christmas week.
“I am glad though that for a very large number of families, they will not be spending this Christmas in a hotel thanks to the dedicated efforts of all involved and the continued rollout of new Family Hubs.”
The Department said that 67 families exited emergency accommodation into homes, and 85 families were prevented from entering emergency accommodation in Dublin during November.
“I want to assure all individuals and families experiencing homelessness that it is an absolute priority for my Department to deliver the housing solutions needed,” Murphy said.
In 2019, we will continue to increase the delivery of social housing to provide more people with homes.
Focus Ireland said that while much good work is being done the latest figures shows the Government has still failed to take a number of vital decisions required to ease the crisis.
According to Focus Ireland, new figures that they released today show that “one child became homeless every 4 hours last month in the capital city”.
“There is real danger that the people get lost behind the numbers.
Christmas is a time for us all to reflect on our lives and our society, and I hope that everyone across Ireland, as they enjoy their family and home this Christmas will give some thought to the 4,000 children who do not have a home, and join us in Focus Ireland in new year resolution that we must do so much better in 2019.
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Helen Mc Entee said she’s ‘delighted’ with the new ‘bands’. But what is the positive/ the advantage of watering down, diluting, the criteria-the percentage required in order to achieve higher grades?
@Mary Linton: Can’t believe I’m doing this but going to defend the minister here. I’m an examiner for state exams and the merit was my main gripe. You have kids with little knowledge getting a merit at 55% yet at the same time, others getting the same merit on 74%. These would have good knowledge of the subject and would previously have gotten a B in the old system. Similarly, many kids who would have gotten an A in the old system, now get a Higher Merit instead of a Distinction as a huge proportion fall between 85 and 89 percent.
Everyone is a winner. Also known as dumbing down the system.
@Mark R: the grade bands have little to do with that. The whole exam has been dumbed down. At least this gives students the same chance their peers had prior to 2017.
Unions will get dog’s abuse this week but we tried to warn you. Trying to warn you about the Leaving Cert now and as usual no one will listen.
@Alan OConnor: by coincidence I had that Fatboy Slim cd on in my car at weekend — ” why try harder?”
@Mark R: not dumbing it down, restoring it to how it was before junior cycle. The highest 3 old grades were, A:85-100, B:70-85, C:55-70. Notice anything? If anything, it shows that the Junior Cycle system is a failure and Junior Cert was better.
@Mark R: that happened ages ago. It’s ridiculously simple now.
@Mark R: It’s to help all the children of our diverse nation.
So, to use a golfing ‘analogy’…..Helen has made it far easier to make ‘the cut’ ?
@Buster Lawless: she has restored what was the system for decades prior to 2017. Should never have been changed.
@Alan OConnor: indeed nothing new in the grading. It’s back to the future LOL. At least fifty years. I imagine the grading goes beyond that to the founding of the state, however that’s just a hunch.
Horray, Helen McEntee is getting the old bands back together! A lot undone but a lot more to undo. Pause the LC change. Publish the JC Reviews.
The new junior cycle is a joke. When it came in a few years back, a friend of mine working for the department said to me to just wait til they redo the leaving certificate.
It’s insane and will inevitably lead to standards dropping in 3rd level too.
It’s to make things easier for all the children of our new nation.
This is mad. I’m already struggling get my teen to study. He is bright but not interested in study. Now his is just laughing. It’s the dumbing down of society. Ridiculous
It’s great to see a load of idiots with no knowledge of the system talking about it being dumbed down. The threshold to have an opinion has been lowered to give the likes of yourselves the opportunity to speak, that’s the real issue. If you don’t have any understanding of the problem, which has been raised by the individuals involved, that have an understanding of the whole system, flaws and all, then just stay quiet. It’s people like these with zero clue about most things, other than surface level misunderstandings, that lead to a society where people know nothing, but think they’re experts.
Nothing wrong with making the exams easier for our teenagers! Too much stress on them a/way!
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