Sinn Féin TD for Galway West Mairéad Farrell has criticised the Government’s ongoing failure to address the housing crisis which has resulted in an unprecedented number of people experiencing homelessness in the state. In Galway, this has resulted in a lack of emergency accommodation for people who have become homeless.
Deputy Farrell raised this in the Dáil with Taoiseach Simon Harris in July, and has received further correspondence from the Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien in relation to the issue.
The Minister wrote to Deputy Farrell saying thatGalway City Council have advised that while there is currently a shortage of available staffed emergency accommodation in which to place homeless households including families, the Council are actively working to address this challenging situation with efforts ongoing to identify and secure additional emergency accommodation.
“The Council is working with my Department on a number of new initiatives in 2024, including a pilot scheme providing housing-led supported accommodation to families with complex needs in Galway City and County.
“There is a focus on supporting those already in emergency accommodation to exit homelessness into their own homes through the allocation of social housing or securing rental accommodation through HAP and other social housing supports. This in turn will help free up emergency accommodation spaces to assist those households who are in need of emergency accommodation,” the statement continued.
Deputy Farrell has commented on this response, saying she commended the work of Galway City and County Council for the work they are doing to support people who do not have stable housing options. However, the Minister must recognize that Councils cannot do anything with houses that aren’t there.
“I am aware that people in Galway are struggling to find any kind of private rented accommodation, with or without the support of HAP. Support workers in the City Council are advising people to look farther and farther out into the County, and even into other counties.
“The reality of the situation is that not a single affordable house has been delivered in Galway in the lifetime of this Government, there are thousands on Council housing waiting lists, and waiting times seem to be getting longer and longer,” she added.
“Each month we hear of a new record-breaking figure of people accessing emergency accommodation across the state. In the west in June 2024, 112 families were in emergency accommodation, including 239 children. This is up from June 2023, when there was 97 families in emergency accommodation and June 2022 when it was 88 families.
“There are even more ‘hidden homeless’ who are couch surfing, living with extended family in overcrowded accommodation, or are sleeping in their cars. My office is constantly being contacted by people who are already homeless or are deciding between homelessness and overholding their rental property where a landlord has given them notice to leave.
“The approach this Government has taken to the housing crisis is simply not good enough and that is borne out by the numbers we are seeing who are seeking homeless support.
“The Minister must take responsibility for this and work to address the underlying issues in the housing market so that people in Galway can access affordable accommodation,” concluded Deputy Farrell.
