Homeless figures reach 13,179 nationwide

The latest homelessness figures for Ireland show that 13,179 people are homeless in Ireland, breaking a dubious record in the process.

The figure is now the highest level of homelessness ever recorded in Ireland.

The figure includes 3,991 children.

6,653 adults were in emergency homeless accommodation in Dublin in the final weekend of October.

Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien, claimed “those without a home remain the top priority for this Government.”

“My Department is making funding of €242 million available for the delivery of homeless services in 2024 – a 12.6% increase on the Budget 2023 allocation and we have been clear that there will be no obstacle in funding much-needed services. Already we have seen that the Tenant in Situ scheme is effectively preventing people who receive a notice to quit from entering into emergency accommodation and we are extending this scheme into next year also.”

“Funding for next year will ensure local authorities can continue to provide emergency accommodation and others services to households experiencing homelessness, and – crucially – that even more households at risk of homelessness will be prevented from entering into emergency accommodation and those in emergency accommodation will be supported to exit into secure tenancies as quickly as possible.”

Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan said “in 2019, when the number of people living in homeless accommodation surpassed 10,000, Darragh O’Brien – in his role as opposition housing spokesperson – decried that another record had been shattered by the Fine Gael Government.”

“He went on to state that ‘this cannot continue’ and outlined how Fianna Fáil would fix the housing crisis.”

“We are now more than three years into his term as Minister for Housing and the number of people living in emergency accommodation has grown by 52 per cent. Shamefully, the number of children growing up without a home has increased by a staggering 50%.”

In recent weeks, homelessness activist Father Peter McVerry warned that as many as 16,000 people could be homeless by the next general election.

O’Brien stated  that the reasons for homelessness are “complex” and said that Government, local authorities and those in NGO sectors are “working together and making every effort to reduce homelessness.”

“We can see some of this hard work paying off in terms of the significant increases in preventing people from entering emergency accommodation and helping people to exit,” he said.

He conceded that the situation is “very challenging” but Government have made it a “priority.”.