Government failing children in Dublin as homelessness rises again
Government failing children in Dublin as homelessness rises again - The Labour Party
Labour’s Dublin Spokesperson Aodhán Ó Ríordáin MEP has called for urgent action to tackle the escalating child homelessness crisis in Dublin, following the publication of the latest figures from the Department of Housing showing 3,559 children now living in emergency accommodation in the capital – up from 3,415 in January.
Ó Ríordáin said:
“These figures should shock the Government into action – but they won’t. They represent yet another damning indictment of a housing policy that continues to fail the most vulnerable. The thought of one child without a home is a disgrace in such a wealthy country – but we now have 3,559 children in this horrific situation in Dublin alone. It’s utterly shameful.
“From January to May, more than one child every day has become homeless in this city. That is not just a statistic – that is a child’s life thrown into chaos and a family, under unbearable pressure.
“Let’s be clear – Government has the resources. But it does not have the political will. Ministers can talk about figures all they like, but the reality on the ground is worsening.
“On the European Parliament’s Committee on Housing, I am working to ensure that housing is treated as a fundamental right. But while we push for that recognition at EU level, the Irish Government drags its heels at home. There is no sense of urgency from those in power. There is no meaningful plan to address the housing emergency in a way that prevents families and children from falling into homelessness in the first place.
“We must ask ourselves – why does this matter? Because no child should go to school from a hotel room. No child should wonder where they’ll be sleeping next week. No child should carry the trauma of homelessness through the rest of their life. That is why this crisis must be treated as the national emergency it is.
“Labour Party is calling on Government to use the resources it has to put an urgent and credible plan in place to end child homelessness in Dublin. This means proper investment in social and affordable housing, stronger tenant protections, and a real focus on prevention. We need to make this a political and moral priority for Dublin – and for Ireland.”