Sinn Féin TD for South Kildare, Patricia Ryan, has called on Minister Darragh O’Brien to explain why there is no emergency accommodation available in Kildare and why people are being forced to sleep on the floors of Garda stations.

She added that things will only get worse under a government led by Simon Harris, who has had nothing to say about the housing and homelessness crises since being announced as leader of Fine Gael two weeks ago.

Teachta Ryan said:

“These past two weeks, I have had to try and help several people, homeless through no fault of their own, who have been told by Kildare County Council that there is no emergency accommodation available for them to go to.

“People have been left with no alternative but to present to their local Garda Stations and sleep on their floors because there is nowhere else for them to go.

“Over those same two weeks, Simon Harris has had nothing to say about worsening housing and homelessness crises.

“The scarcity of rental properties in Kildare, and eye-watering rents beyond the means of most ordinary workers and families, is driving more and more people into homelessness.

“This week marked a full year since the government lifted the ban on no-fault evictions. At the time, we warned Darragh O’Brien that this would happen.

“We told the government that ending the ban would lead to an increase in homelessness and in numbers seeking emergency homeless accommodation, but they simply would not listen and ploughed on regardless.

“People now sleeping on the floors of Garda stations in Kildare is a direct result of that decision and of the government’s continued failure to deliver social and affordable housing.

“What’s worse is that we know things are only going to get worse under this government. Simon Harris represents more of the same – he has sat at the cabinet table for eight years as house ownership collapsed and rents skyrocketed.

“Since becoming leader of Fine Gael nearly two weeks ago, Simon Harris has had nothing to say on housing. That it didn’t feature on his list of priorities tells you all you need to know, and is simply not tenable for a Taoiseach during the worst housing and homelessness crises the state has ever seen.

“That is why we need a general election, a change of government and a change of Housing Minister if we are to have any hope of tackling the housing and homelessness crisis.”