Sinn Féin spokesperson on Housing, Eoin Ó Broin TD, has said that more action is needed to prevent premature deaths of people experiencing homelessness.

The Dublin Mid-West has called for the implementation of all of the recommendations of Dr Austin O’Carroll’s 2021 report into premature deaths among people experiencing homelessness.

Teachta Ó Broin said:

“The Dublin Regional Homeless Executive has today revealed that 40 people experiencing homelessness have died so far this year. Every single one of these deaths are a tragedy and many were preventable.

“In 2021, Dr Austin O’Carroll published a landmark report into the premature deaths of people experiencing homelessness. The report highlighted that where people were experiencing mental ill-health, addiction and homelessness their life expectancy was dramatically lower.

“His report set out a number of important recommendations including greater use of trauma informed care, improved addiction and mental health supports and the introduction of adult safeguarding reviews in cases where people experiencing homelessness have died.

“Unfortunately, too many of the recommendations of this important report have not been implemented and as a result too many people experiencing homelessness are dying prematurely.

“Government, the HSE and homeless service providers need to do more to prevent premature deaths of people experiencing homelessness. All of the recommendations of Dr Austin O’Carroll’s 2021 report into premature deaths among people experiencing homelessness must be implemented as a matter of urgency.”

Dr O’Carroll’s report can be found here: Interim Report on mortality in single homeless population 2020 (homelessdublin.ie)