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LAST UPDATE | 31 Jul 2019
THE GOVERNMENT AND Housing Minister have come under fire once again after homeless figures for June remained reached over 10,000 for the fifth month in a row.
National figures have dipped slightly with 81 less people classified as homeless compared to May’s figures.
The details published today for June show there are now 10,172 people living in emergency accommodation – consisting of 6,497 adults and 3,675 children.
Much of that drop came in the form of children being removed from the list but June remains the fifth month in a row where there were more than 10,000 people classed as homeless – first breaking that threshold in February.
There is now 1,686 families living in homelessness.
Homeless charity groups remain concerned that the number of people living in hotels, B&Bs and other types of emergency accommodation remains significantly high.
‘National disgrace’
Inner City Helping Homeless CEO Anthony Flynn said: “We cannot lose sight of the fact that we have over 10,000 people still officially homeless across the state.”
Until the political will is there to build proper public housing in vast quantities we will never see a proper sustained reduction in these numbers.
“The fact that we still have 3,675 children homeless is a national disgrace as children need proper homes to develop physically and mentally.
Depaul homeless charity also weighed in on the figures today saying despite the slight decrease “we must continue to move people off homelessness and provide them with the right supports to allow them to rebuild their lives.”
Interim CEO of the charity, David Carroll said: “the summer months are a time for holidays and fun and to take a break from things… for families and individuals in homelessness there is no break, the struggle and worry is constant.”
Focus Ireland’s Director of Advocacy, Mike Allen also said: “There is a real danger that human stories get lost behind the numbers – especially during the summer months when the politicians are on holidays and people are enjoying the good weather.
“There is no holiday or break from the almost constant stress for the over 10,000 people who are homeless.”
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Wait, you mean Pfizer aren’t here for our incredibly skilled workforce??
As a Multinational corp employee I would disagree. There are many reasons they and other multinationals setup, tax being one factor. But you need to create the right environment for business and this includes a number of key attributes such as financial, people, infrastructure, culture etc. Once you create critical mass for any industry such as Pharma, tech, financial services etc you attract more investment and also allow for home grown business to thrive either in support of the sectors or part of the sectors. Everyone focuses on the tax the corporations should pay but seem to ignore all the benefits they bring to the broader economy such as job, GDP, reputation etc. Anyways you have to ask what are the real drivers behind the US Treasury ruling and longer term impact to US economy will be felt. Ireland should continue to create attractive business environment to capitalize on this.
That’s great, Lawrence. We should then let them do whatever they like, in grateful appreciation for some employment. Would they be interested in any of our maidens or small boys??
Yeah that really brings perspective to conversation. We let the banks do what they want to the country but God forbid you try and bring jobs or real investment. Pfizer has invested 7 Billon in Ireland. Yeah real vultures. And have they broken any rules or laws. No. Unlike the banks for example
Oh Oh!
Wait a couple of days, and the “Tax Advisers” will find loopholes in that one too.
Government should be concentrating on Irish businesses, not depending on corporations,like the housing bubble, it will burst.deloitte reported 1,500 Irish businesses closed in 2015,Richard Burton is not on TV talking about that.
True that. Last time I saw Richard Burton on the box he was taming a shrew.
A tax harmonisation across the EU is what’s really scary.
Tax is the governments way of control. They dont like the free market economy dictating terms.
I’m sorry, Lawrence, but you really are a fool – and by the looks of things, would sell your own granny for your jobs and perks. The “free market” has been such a great friend to everybody, has it?
There is a big difference between a true Free market economy (which doesnt exist anymore) and the monopolized version of capitalism driving the bank bail outs for example. I have no shame in what i do and i am being very open and honest about it, i work hard and pay my taxes so owe nothing to you sir.
We have propped up our economy on another bubble that is about to burst, but this time its based on our corporation tax laws rather than housing. It’ll be the average people again that will have to pick up the pieces.
I wonder how will that work with the TTIP or maybe its a result of the TTIP.
HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS!?! “The move would save Pfizer some $35 billion in taxes and be the largest corporate inversion ever.” -RT
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