This week a Simon Communities of Ireland report reveals a national scandal of elderly people being made homeless in Ireland. It is heartbreaking and a stain on this country that the number of elderly people over 65 in homelessness has increased by 165% in Dublin and 500% in the west since 2017. Pensioners in their 70s and 80s are being evicted from their homes by landlords. Vulnerable elderly people who have worked all their lives for this country are being made homeless right now because Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael will not stand up to the landlords and investor funds. Will the Taoiseach take responsibility for this homelessness catastrophe? Will he apologise to these elderly people that he has failed? Will he stop shamefully blaming immigration for homelessness and focus on the real cause - evictions by landlords and the lack of social housing for the elderly?

I call on the Taoiseach to respond.

Why will the Taoiseach not put in place a ban on evictions into homelessness-----

The Deputy's time is up. I call on the Taoiseach to respond.

-----to ensure that no more elderly pensioners are made homeless this year?

The most effective way to prevent elderly people becoming homeless is through social housing. Some 52,000 social homes have been added to the social housing stock between 2020 and now. In addition to that, about 14,000 voids were brought back into use - these are houses in the social housing stock that were empty.

In quarter 3 of last year alone, 1,600 new social homes were delivered, including 1,330 new-build homes. We can and will work to prevent elderly homelessness through the increased building of social homes, acquisitions, the tenant in situ scheme, and other mechanisms that would prevent elderly people from becoming homeless.

It is not enough. Why does the Government not ban evictions?

Joan is 86 and she is facing homelessness and emergency accommodation because her landlord is selling up. Joe is 78 and sleeping on his sister's couch for over a year. Meanwhile, as I highlighted yesterday, there is an apartment block nearby in Cherrywood with 30 two-bedroom and one-bedroom apartments lying empty for 18 months. They are supposed to be for social housing to house people like Joe and Joan. Since I highlighted that yesterday, I have heard there are two more apartment blocks in south Dublin also sitting empty, which are also designated for social housing. I also note that the Irish Independent highlighted at the weekend another apartment block in the Phoenix Park, which is designated for social housing but is sitting empty for months and months.

This is systemic. This is property developers sitting on empty property that was supposed to be used for social housing and the Taoiseach is letting it happen. What is he going to do about it?

It is not that we are letting it happen. Come on.

It is happening.

What is the Deputy saying? It is wrong that it is happening but the developer and the approved housing body have contractual disagreements. Is the Deputy saying the Government should just ignore that and take a side?

Will the Government sit back and do nothing?

You do not sit back either but you get the thing resolved in the best interests of the taxpayer-----

Eighteen months later.

------and those seeking housing. There are reasons particular cases like this happen. They are disgraceful but they happen. We will work hard to resolve this in the best interests of the taxpayer and those seeking housing.