Homelessness In Capital Reaches 'A New Extreme' - FF

The increase in homelessness in Dublin has reached "a new extreme", Fianna Fáil's Spokesperson for Dublin John Lahart has said.

Homelessness in the capital has risen by 35% within the last year, according to the latest figures from Dublin Region Homeless Executive. The figures also show that a total of 5,146 adults and children were in emergency accommodation last month, a 35% increase in the year.

Commenting on the figures, Deputy Lahart said: "I am deeply concerned to learn by further increases in the number of people being forced into homelessness. This Government have been aware of the acute homeless situation for some time, yet few tangible measures have been introduced to effectively alleviate the problem.

"People's standard of living is being continually eroded due to excessive rent inflation which is putting enormous pressure on family incomes and is the primary source of the homeless crisis.

"This is not sustainable and there is an urgent need to introduce Rent Certainty Regulation measures to limit rent inflation in the short to medium term until the supply of housing increases.

"Fianna Fáil have put forward a series of amendments to the Residential Tenancies Act to enhance security of tenure and occupancy for tenants. These amendments are set to remove the ability of receivers to summarily evict existing tenants from rental properties that have been repossessed.

"Minister Coveney must take immediate action on these issues to put a stop to the spiralling number of people falling into homelessness in the capital."

(MH/LM)