4,844 children homeless – Time for a radical reset in housing
4,844 children homeless – Time for a radical reset in housing - The Labour Party
Labour’s Housing Spokesperson Conor Sheehan TD has slammed the Government’s failure to address Ireland’s worsening homelessness crisis, following the release of the May figures showing more than 15,747 people, including 4,844 children, now in emergency accommodation. Speaking today in Dublin, Deputy Sheehan said that it “beggars belief” that Ireland is running an €8 billion surplus while failing to keep children out of homelessness, and called for an urgent reset in housing policy to deal with the scale of the crisis.
Deputy Sheehan said:
“For the almost 4,844 children trapped in homelessness, this is a crisis that will shape the rest of their lives. They are living day to day, in a state of constant stress and insecurity, missing out on the basic stability every child deserves. This Government has normalised child homelessness. That this is happening in a country with an €8 billion surplus is nothing short of shameful.
“This is not just a political failure – it is a moral one. Labour has been fighting for years to see our Homeless Families Bill enacted. The Bill would prioritise children’s rights when it comes to families vulnerable to eviction. Far from radical, it has cross-party support and has passed pre-legislative scrutiny. Focus Ireland supports it. But this Government – and the one before it – simply haven’t bothered to act. They have the tools. They just won’t use them.
“In March, I wrote directly to the Minister for Housing, setting out four clear and deliverable actions to tackle this crisis. I’ve yet to receive a response. That kind of inertia is unforgivable when lives are on the line. This is the crisis of our times – and they are sleepwalking through it.
“We need the Government to take control of what it can. That means the State stepping in to build the homes people need. Only the State has the deep pockets required to deliver housing at the scale and speed that’s necessary. The current approach – one that continues to kowtow to developers – has failed.
“We know that schemes like Help-To-Buy have only made things worse. They’ve driven up prices and fed inflation. The problem isn’t demand – it’s supply. We cannot fix this until we’re honest about what’s broken.
“Labour is calling for a radical reset in housing policy. The Government must stop making excuses, stop hiding behind legal advice or developer wishlists, and start delivering homes. The public can’t wait any longer.”