Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 November 2023
98. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage what measures will be put in place to tackle the record numbers of children living in homeless emergency accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49015/23]
View answerThe number of children growing up without a home has never been so high in the history of this State. There are record numbers of children growing up homeless. This is having a devastating impact on their development and well-being. What is the Minister doing to reduce the number of children becoming homeless? I ask the senior Minister to answer.
We allocate the questions.
Supporting individuals and families facing homelessness is a key Government priority. We are supporting households to exit homelessness by increasing the supply of housing. The Department has prioritised measures that focus on accelerating social and affordable housing supply through a combination of new builds, targeted acquisitions and leasing. A record €4.5 billion was available this year to support the largest State investment ever, including 9,100 direct-build social homes and 5,000 affordable homes.
We have the tenant in situ scheme. We have also established the national homeless action committee, NHAC, the overarching objective of which is to ensure that a renewed emphasis is brought to collaboration across government to implement actions in Housing for All, along with bringing better and coherent co-ordination of homeless-related services in delivering policy measures in order to address homelessness, including for children. Homelessness prevention is an immediate priority of the NHAC. A subgroup of the NHAC was established-----
Has anything new been done to address it?
-----to examine and make recommendations and develop proposals relating to early intervention services for children and their families.
Record numbers of children are homeless.
Deputy, please. Do not interrupt the Minister of State.
In the past quarter, as the Deputy is aware, 1,279 people, including children, have been prevented from going into homelessness or have exited homelessness. Those numbers are increasing. The measures are working. We appreciate that the numbers are very high.
There is record homelessness.
They relate to preventing people from going into and exiting homelessness. The NHAC subgroup put forward 15 recommendations and the Department reports progress regarding the recommendations of NHAC members. There are fine Government policies on homelessness, including among children.
