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THE NUMBER OF people living in emergency accommodation increased last month to a record 14,760 people.
According to the latest figures from the Department of Housing, 10,199 adults and 4,561 children were in emergency accommodation in September.
It represents an increase of 274 people, compared to August. It is the ninth consecutive month that the number of people in emergency housing has risen.
Charities and members of the opposition have said that there is a need for Government to take radical action and stressed the importance of implementing the Housing Commission report, published earlier this year.
Executive Director of the Simon Communities, a homelessness charity, Wayne Stanley said that these figures, likely to be the last report published before the a general election is called, is evidence that the next Government will need to do more.
He added that the Housing Commission has put the next Government in a “fortunate” position and stressed that there needs to be action taken and funding provided so that its plan can be fully implemented.
The Housing Commission report made recommendations to boost the supply of housing, assist with people who are currently homeless or in emergency accommodation and review private rental arrangements.
At the time, the Government welcomed the report but charities – who praised the recommendations included in its conclusion – have since been quick to point out that very little from the report has yet to be implemented.
DePaul, another homelessness charity, has said the next ruling party should use the Housing Commission report as a layout for a strategic national plan for housing and homelessness.
It’s chief executive David Carroll added that Government need to reverse the over-reliance on temporary accommodation, complete a comprehensive review of mental health services and increase HSE funding for homelessness services.
Today’s figures from the Department of Housing is the final report for the third quarter of this year. It says that 862 adults and 327 families exited emergency accommodation and were housed within the three-month period.
The exit figures represent a 23.5% increase in the number of households who were brought out of homelessness compared to the same period last year.
There was also a 37% increase in the number of households who recieved housing prevention assistance, from charities such as Threshold, the Simon Communities, Focus Ireland and other activists.
Families and others in emergency accommodation are usually rehomed once social housing units become available, however the Housing Commission report cited serious concerns over the level of social homes needed to deal with the crisis.
Housing minister Darragh O’Brien took note of what he called “significant” increases in the exit and prevention rates. He remained adamant that the pipeline for housing supply is “incredibly strong”.
Housing charity Focus Ireland’s CEO Pat Dennigan said that the next Government must review and adjust policies around the rehousing mechanisms, so that families and those who have been homeless for long periods of time are better prioritised.
It has long been the case that charities and members of the opposition believe the system to rehouse people in emergency accommodation does not do enough to mitigate long-term homelessness.
Among the many resolutions includes increasing social housing supply. Dennigan believes that the targeted approach, used during the Covid-19 pandemic, was significant to reduce long-term homelessness.
He added: “If we fail to apply the lessons from what has proven effective, the number of families and children enduring long-term homelessness will continue to increase each month, despite the valuable efforts of Focus Ireland, other NGOs, and the State to support more households out of homelessness.”
Minister O’Brien today cited figures from the recent social housing construction report that detailed that more than 27,000 social homes are currently onsite or at design and tender stage.
“As we wait for this supply to take hold, supporting individuals and families facing homelessness will remain a top priority for this Government,” the minister added.
But figures released by the CSO this week found that the number of total homes completed so far this year is significantly lower than last year. O’Brien said he was sure that completions would pick up later in the year, as has been the case previously.
Sinn Féin’s spokesperson for finance Pearse Doherty said that the report was further evidence that there was a need for the Government to take a “radically different approach” to housing.
His colleague, and party spokesperson for housing, Eoin Ó Broin suggested today for the Government to reinstate the temporary eviction ban – to reduce the risk of people entering homelessness.
“Ultimately the only way we will start to tackle the ever deepening homelessness crisis is with a change of Government and a change of housing plan,” he argued.
The Social Democrats echoed this sentiment, with party TD and housing spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan claiming: “The depressing familiarity of this record being broken is an indictment of this Government’s legacy.”
Labour Leader and Spokesperson on Housing Ivana Bacik said the figures represent a “damning indictment of Government failure”.
Every party gave reference to the astounding levels of wealth and record-high Government budget surpluses recorded this year. Bacik said it was imperative that the State put those funds to use.
She said: “The State has the resources, but not the political will, to solve this housing emergency. It is simply unacceptable, and it speaks to a government that has consistently failed to deliver on its promises.”
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Quick reminder that the government could legalise cannabis tomorrow, if they wanted to. But they don’t, for some reason.
@FlipBip: what is the Maroccan government doing ? Follow the money
@FlipBip: the smell of it is reason enough to ban it
@Basildon Joe: Lmao, boomers like you must be terrified from an article like this :)
@Basildon Joe: Erm would one of the main reasons to legalise it not be to ensure the public have safe and legal choices?! Your comment makes literally no sense! I’m assuming you read and comment on the Daily Mail a lot?! Proper Peter Hitchens goo brain conservatism as usual!
It’s legal in some G7 countries and governments collect huge amounts of tax from it and there seems to be no more affect from using it than having a few pints so why not legalize it in Ireland?
@Ned: yes but how ?
@Ned: because as with all commodities that are taxed black markets follow – cigs, car fuels, prescription drugs, alcohol. These are far more dangerous.
@Ned: We’re an impossible people Ned. Never happen
@Thesaltyurchin: you are right impossible people is an Irish problem
@Nerb: The black market already exists!
Legalise and tax
@qffaffaf affrafrfraf: easier said than done.
@offside again: 177 people caught drug driving last week alone putting the lives of other drivers in danger.Think about that for minute.
@Willie Marty: Was anyone caught drunk driving? Weak argument.
@Diarmuid Hunt: the article is about drugs.Read it.
@Willie Marty: I did. However your comment was about drug driving. People use a legal inhibiting substance and drive and risk other people’s lives. Is people acting irresponsibly a valid reason to ban alcohol?
@Diarmuid Hunt: were you ever advised “if you drink dont drive”
@Willie Marty: Yes I was numerous times by many adverts from the RSA as were all the people who chose to drink and drive… it obviously doesn’t stop it happening. Are you saying people that drug drive don’t understand the implications of driving under the influence and that a simple PSA would sort it?
@Willie Marty: Cant lump Cannabis in with all drugs. Still waiting for that first challenge on the courts tho, go to Amsterdam for a weekend the following week your arrested for drug driving in Ireland… gonna be an interesting case.
@Diarmuid Hunt: no drugs no alcohol-less misery less crime and more productive lives for all.
@Willie Marty: False narrative, money creates crime.
@Thesaltyurchin: it sure does and theres money in drugs.
@Willie Marty: More productive or more profitable?
@Diarmuid Hunt: a bit of both.
@Willie Marty: yeah and all the people who might’ve had a blunt a week ago and still fail it. Wake up there’s people with cancer who can’t access is because of these stupid laws.
@Willie Marty: Prohibition worked great in the USA! It caused no crime at all……
There is a huge industry around the so called treatment for cannabis abuse , and do called experts acting like there they are speaking from position of proven facts ,When the truth is there is only limited real facts available as off now ,And you look a bit closer you will see ,the do called experts on cannabis abuse are usually making a fortune from so called treatment programs
@Robert Halvey: yep all a big scam. Really wish the Irish people would do their own research on cannabis. So many smart people using it for various illnesses.
@LegalisationSavesLives: i use it to get stoned. Sometimes i use alchohol to get drunk.
i use paracetamol for pain. Tea to get me going, nicotine for i dont know what.
i go to the doctor if i feel i should.
@offside again: Are you a functioning human now though??
@offside again: Tea to get you going? Fluck me, you’re a special case for sure. Happy New Year, tho ..
@Donna Fallon: yes, I have a job. I am a functionning member of society.
@offside again: sounds like you need a lobotomy
@reg morrisey: Sounds like everyone else on this comment has already had one tbf!. Talk about reactionary, you folks are really finding food on those rocks at the bottom! :)
Torn on this one… the weed that’s being distributed in recent years is seriously strong (and or dipped in other substances) compared to the stuff circulating back in my day. I know too many young people who have experienced severe irreversible drug- induced psychosis from it’s usage. If it was legalised and regulated, it might clean up the market??
@Donna Fallon: don’t know a single person who had a bad reaction to weed ,
Where are all these people who suffer from REEFER MADNESS
@Donna Fallon: sure you do Donna. Funny enough I’ve never know anyone over all the years I was involved in the music/clubbing scene who had a psychosis episode from weed intake,the ones I did know that had issues were with alcohol and cocaine
@sean weir: Go to the psychosis unit in St. John of God Stillorgan Dublin
@HisMastersAlibi: Go to the psychosis unit in St. John of God Stillorgan Dublin. Yup admittedly, my episodes were from uppers like coke, alcohol and ecstasy. Do not try to downplay the affects of weed, hash, resin, oil etc. Honestly any stoner I was in school with is now either in a home or still living with their parents. No motivation.
@sean weir: i do and it was back in the day. Alchohol can also have an immediate and negative effect on some people.
But that’s not the point.
Tread carefully
@offside again: You’re offside again.
@Donna Fallon: Legalisation that allowed people to grow a few plants and organised regulated dispensaries to sell to adult consumers as in other jurisdictions, would greatly reduce the risk of young people buying cannabis laced with other drugs, etc, to either increase potency or just to add weight.
It wouldn’t end the business of drug dealers, but it would give people better options and likely clean up the entire market, especially if testing of cannabis products was easily available to consumers, then any contamination of the pure product would be made evident, making it less appealing and harder to sell, which would therefore force even the non-regulated market to clean up it’s act.
@Dvsespaña: wow man
@Donna Fallon: utter nonsense
@Donna Fallon: I feel you nothing about Cannabis Donna, but it seems you know everything. I’m conflicted.
@Basildon Joe: For the sake of any unsuspecting reader; If a person experiences Psychosis OR an extremely rare case of Schizophrenia it is 100% because they are predisposed to it!… know yourself, don’t wait to find out!
@Thesaltyurchin: Lol I wish I knew everything!! No on a serious note, I have first hand experience of the negative effects of THC. When I was young, I used to travel almost monthly to Amsterdam- wasn’t my drug of choice personally. However, I’ve family members and close friends whose lives have literally been arrested due to abuse of that substance- I’m not talking about those who have the occasional spliff.
@Shimo F: Prove me wrong!!
@Donna Fallon: eh no. You don’t.
@Donna Fallon: Appreciate that’s your version of reality Donna, but that’s a tiny, tiny percentage of people who are mostly fine. My lived experience is one where everyone who enjoys Cannabis is completely normal, with families and very active lives, zero mental health knock on (if anything in the opposite direction!). The only negative is organised crime but with more people growing at home this could be wiped out (never entirely, but to the point where it makes little revenue), leaving facilities and law enforcement free to actually save lives. Genuinely believe society is worse off on the outside of issues like this, in Ireland tho we do like people to be ‘worse off’ tho
@sean weir: You’ve obviously never seen the teenagers with irreversible psychological problems due to early cannabis use. I see these kids every day, crippled with anxiety and depression that they’ll have to live with for the rest of their lives. Every one of them says the same thing, that cannabis is harmless. Multiple independent studies show the harm that this drug does to young brains. Just because you don’t know anyone affected doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen.
@stephen deegan: That’s an excellent reason to legalise and regulate.
@Donna Fallon: That is exactly what it does. Controls the quality of the product and makes it safer for everyone.
@HisMastersAlibi: The new hybrid stuff is shockingly strong. It is not like the mellow pout stuff of the past. Very speedy!
@Basildon Joe: I have never in nearly 50 years of knowing about it. Seen anybody use cannabis and get violent. Other drugs yes they do but a dope head is too laid back to get angry!
Toby and Sam are two beautiful Springer Spaniels, lovely temperament, clever and great with kids!
The article reads like a 12 year old has written it .
A “dab rig” really????
@sean weir: Google “dab rig” .
We are not accustomed to this in Ireland, cos the product is extremely unusual here. I believe it’s probably similar to an electric vaporiser, but which will contain the melted substance, which becomes liquid when heated.
I think there are many such products available to buy online.
@sean weir: It’s hilarious eh? Design to terrify boomers and the good sky fearing Irish, lol. This is all old old, largely inconsequential news. Even the commenter above is mystified by “dab rig”
The country is riddled with Drugs & is the gateway to Europe from Drug Lords. Drug gangs in control of many communities now & communities suffering from Crimes connected to Drugs, all thanks to our ineffective Minister for Justice, Helen Mc Entee, who has overseen the collapse of Law & Order, a failed Justice system, dysfunctional Garda Siochana & overcrowded Prisons, too busy bringing in the harshest Hate Crime legislation in Europe, which became law last night. Govt will now use these Hate Laws to silence all free speech & criticism of their open door Immigration policies. We had a senior Garda figure state inaccuracies on National Television this week around vetting of Immigrants. Eurodac data base does not cover Criminality in Africa or the Middle East !
Them dogs look like they’re on butane honey oil.
@Bills n Stuff: well they’d have to be. That’s how they are trained.
I am sure it’s great for your lungs
Zero tolerance
@James Leahy: ooof we’d love a bit of zero tolerance eh? Walking into peoples living rooms and forcing them to live like us… cannot wait
@Thesaltyurchin: who mentioned walking into people’s living rooms.Zero tolerance on our roads ie drug and drink driving.
@James Leahy: We already prosecute drivers who are completely sober for having trace amounts of non psychoactive THC metabolites in their system. How zero tolerance would you like it to get ?
Jeepers! look at us gather ‘the news’, with no shoes, in the pouring rain. How do we even manage, lol.
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