Taoiseach Simon Harris declared that the government will be reviewing the allocation of social housing by local authorities, in order to ensure that priority is given to homeless people and families. Recent figures from the Department of Housing revealed a homelessness figure of over 14,000, with 4,400 of these being children.
Despite significant increases in social housing supply, Mr Harris expressed concern over the continuous rise in homelessness. He noted that the issue of councils’ dispersal of State-provided social housing to waiting list applicants is now under preliminary review. The main goal is to make headway on the homelessness issue as the number of social homes in Ireland continues to surge.
Mr Harris pinpointed an irregularity wherein an unprecedented increase in social homes allocation was accompanied by a continuous hike in homelessness. He mentioned that building activities are on the rise, with an average of 308 new houses being developed every working day. However, the numbers on homelessness are not decreasing as expected.
He stated that council methods of housing allotment need reevaluation. Plans to initiate discussion with local authorities regarding the issue are underway, to be also brought up during a housing Cabinet subcommittee.
The key aim is to ensure the expansion in state housing provision leads to a beneficial reduction in homelessness, as currently the situation is displaying an opposite and counterintuitive trend.
An escalation in asylum requests in Ireland is affecting the housing crisis, stated Mr Harris. The issue of housing coupled with migration are now becoming increasingly related, he highlighted.
The succession of recognised asylum seekers from direct provision lodging centres has been influencing the operation of other government services, according to him. Following a reception for the family members of Team Ireland competitors at the Irish embassy in Paris on a Saturday morning, he made these comments. Mr Harris was in Paris for the initiation of the Olympic Games.
Mr Harris recalled that a century ago, Ireland made its debut appearance as a sovereign nation in the Olympics in the same city. At that point, not a single female athlete represented the country, and a single female athlete was sent in 1964. He expressed pleasure in the fact that out of the 133 representatives of the current squad, 66 are females, marking the first Olympic Games that achieved gender balance, Mr. Harris noted.