Homelessness and migration
Marie Sherlock challenged the Taoiseach on comments linking migration to homelessness and argued he was minimising the crisis facing thousands in emergency accommodation. The Taoiseach said he was not blaming migrants, only describing the changing composition of homelessness, and argued that this understanding should shape responses.
What exactly did the Taoiseach mean when he said migration has hugely impacted homelessness? When people hear that, they think the Taoiseach is in some way trying to minimise or dismiss the problem that is affecting more than 12,500 people in Dublin and thousands more who are couch-surfing, who are suffering and who do not have homes at this time. The people coming to my clinic are both Irish born and individuals who have made their lives here. Their stories are harrowing. The family of a Dublin Bus driver are being forced to live in emergency accommodation. A customs officer - someone who came here from another country many years ago and who wants to get citizenship - has received a notice to quit. These are real people with real jobs. We need to hear that the Taoiseach's sympathy and understanding are as much with Irish people who are homeless as it is with those who come to this country to make their lives here, and that action will be taken accordingly.
Comment on this
That is a fair point except, but we all need to be honest about it. We need to understand the problem and the challenge. When I refer to migration, I am not blaming anyone. I am simply stating the fact that more than 50% - it is even higher in the Dublin area - are non-Irish citizens. That is just the reality. The composition of homelessness has changed. That is all I am saying. That realisation then informs different responses. When, for example, we came forward with the exemptions for developments in gardens and so on, our proposal was lampooned. However, that proposal could provide a solution for a certain group of people. Everything that increases supply will help us to deal with this matter. Some Europeans who have come here have an entitlement to emergency homes without being entitled to local authority houses or social housing. There are issues here.
The Deputy can attack us for even mentioning what I referred to. She cannot attack us just for mentioning the unmentionable.
