Sinn Féin spokesperson on Housing, Eoin Ó Broin TD, has accused Minister for Housing James Browne of throwing in the towel on ending long-term homelessness by 2030.

The Dublin Mid-West TD’s comments were made as the January homeless figures from the Department of Housing show a new record high in the number of people in emergency accommodation.

Teachta Ó Broin said:

“Today’s Department of Housing report shows a new record high in the number of people in emergency accommodation in January.

“At the end of last month, there were 15,286 people, including 4,604 children, officially categorised as homelessness. This is the highest level since records began.

“The report shows significant increases across all categories of homelessness including adults, children, families, singles and pensioners.

“The report comes only hours after Minister for Housing James Browne admitted that the government was no longer committed to ending long-term homelessness by 2030, despite the previous Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien signing up to this deadline as part of the Lisbon Declaration.

“What this shows is that Minister Brown has thrown in the town on ending long-term homelessness by 2030. This government has neither the will nor the wherewithal to achieve this important target.

“Sinn Féin believes that it is possible to end long-term homelessness and the need to sleep rough by 2030 but only with a radical change of direction as set out in our alternative housing plan A Home Of Your Own.

“However it is clear that government has no intention of taking this course of action. The result will be continued month on month increases in homelessness and an ever greater number of people experiencing the trauma of prolonged emergency accommodation stays.”