What happened on Tuesday night when 30 children did not have anywhere to go or a roof over their heads is a blight on a society. These families ended up in Fairview Park and Mountjoy Square. Imagine having children aged under ten years outside at night looking for a safe place. This is an absolute failure on the part of the Government. Mr. Mike Allen of Focus Ireland stated in a radio interview this morning that 200 of the 1,000 families in emergency accommodation must ring around and self-accommodate every day. They do not know from one day to the next where they will be the following night. What will the Government do about this scandal?

I made absolutely clear that what happened to these families on Tuesday night is completely unacceptable.

It is Government policy.

No, our policy will ensure families will have accommodation and our economic policy will allow the budget to be made available.

Why did the Government oppose our Bill?

Order, please.

No one is saying this is acceptable. We never want to see a family in this situation.

The Government should resign and have a general election now.

Deputy Broughan is out of order.

The amount of contingency emergency accommodation has been doubled overnight in order that further accommodation will be available for families who find themselves in an emergency late at night.

This is the result of the Government's policies.

As I stated, there was capacity last night that was not used. The matter will be monitored very carefully, but of course this case was completely unacceptable.

That is not the point. Some 200 families have to self-accommodate every day.