I join Senator Bacik in welcoming the announcement this morning of the annual cold weather initiative which will be in place from now until the end of April, with 175 additional beds being provided. This is on top of the 250 emergency beds provided last year. There is a Government commitment that nobody who wants or needs a bed in this crisis will be without one over the period of this winter. This is a very important commitment.

The Government has failed miserably.

I commend the additional number of family units being brought into play. These are not short-term but long-term units, with 14 in Glasnevin, 25 in Ballymun Plaza and 80 at a location where Dublin City Council has acquired a number of units. An aspect of the plan which is most welcome is the fact the children and families homelessness action team run by Focus Ireland will raise its staff capacity by 25 project workers to respond to the needs of families living in emergency accommodation. Arrangements are also being put in place whereby Tusla and HSE public health nurses will provide services in emergency accommodation, where they should be provided. The aim is to provide a whole-of-State approach to the crisis. As everybody is well aware, I have my views on how the crisis can be prevented, but we must acknowledge we are where we are with the emergency situation and we must ensure the damage is limited to the greatest extent possible.

I congratulate the Dublin Region Homeless Executive on the serious achievement it has brought about in bringing these additional units into play in such a difficult crisis. It is also important to bear in mind that 739 families exited homeless accommodation in the first nine months of this year, which is a remarkable achievement in the current situation. A large number of organisations, including the Peter McVerry Trust, Focus Ireland, Threshold and the four local authorities, should be congratulated on the achievement of bringing about this initiative.

Like Nero, fiddling while Rome burns.

The public is being asked as part of this initiative that where they encounter somebody who is homeless or vulnerable, such as a younger person or somebody in need of medical care, they act by contacting the emergency services or the local authorities. It is very important that we all play our part in this crisis.