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LAST UPDATE | 29 May 2019
THE MINISTER FOR Housing has accepted that the government “needs to do more” as new figures showed a record number of people were homeless in Ireland during April.
Figures published by the Department of Housing this morning show that there were 6,584 adults and 3,794 children – 10,378 people – recorded in state-funded emergency accommodation last month.
While the number of children in emergency accommodation fell by 27 when compared with the previous month, the overall number of people increased by 73 over the same period.
Commenting on the figures, Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy said that family homelessness continued to be a challenge, particularly in the Dublin area.
“So far this year we have exited more than 320 families out of emergency accommodation into a home, which is some progress, but clearly, we need to do a lot more,” he said.
“My department is working closely with the local authorities to deliver homes for every family in emergency accommodation.”
As the figures were published, Murphy was appearing before the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Housing, where he was providing updates on short-term letting regulations and an update on Rebuilding Ireland.
Commenting on the figures, Sinn Féin Housing spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin said that the government was failing those who needed a roof over their heads.
“We need to see radical change in policy direction,” he said. “Unfortunately, I do not believe that this Minister or this government has any real interest in changing course.”
Chairperson of the Simon Communities of Ireland, Dermot Kavanagh, said the figures showed that the pace of construction of social and affordable homes needed to be accelerated.
“We must ensure that people and families do not remain trapped in emergency accommodation long term,” he said.
“As well as those included in these numbers, there are also many thousands more living with housing insecurity, living with daily uncertainty not knowing of they will have a home next week or next month.
“This is no way for people and families to live.”
Murphy was the subject of two housing protests at the RDS Arena over the weekend, as he attended the local and European election count centre in Dublin.
Criticism was directed at Murphy from housing activists who were protesting against the government’s record on housing, and gardaí and security staff intervened in the protest to shield him from protesters during the second protest.
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Surely most Irish indigenous folk have more than 11 moles per arm?
I have 14 on my left arm and 12 on my right.
I love every single one of them.
Lily, if any of them are raised or have become itchy or changed shape – get them checked out straight away. My husband only has 5 moles, one on his chest directly over his heart, one on his neck and 3 on his back, nearly 21 years ago he went for a medical for a new job and the young doc asked him about the one on his chest and if it had changed, it had. Doc removed it and the results were positive, had it not been diagnosed he would have been dead 6 months later, it really can be that serious.
I had one that changed shape due to pregnancy (it got stretched and ended up lopsided been like that for 16 years), one on my back gets its head ripped by my bra, so occasionally bleeds. One on my side has a darker dot in the middle and is asymmetrical, but it’s been like that for 20 odd years. So far all good :)
The police have a mole – they should get that checked
Say it out louth
Seems insane to have 11 moles on your arm and not get it checked one way or another
How many IRA moles does one need before checking them out?
I’ve only 10.
Sorted.
Weelll me f*cked then.
have your say