Govt's homeless record under fire
The Government came under fire today for its record on providing shelter for the country’s homeless.
Focus Ireland said the number of homeless people was rising despite the Government’s strategy aimed at tackling the problem. It called for an end to the “chaos and misery“.
Some 5,581 people were classified as homeless in 2002, compared to 5,234 in 1999, figures in the charity’s annual report showed.
Chief executive Declan Jones said the Government should meet its commitment to provide 41,500 local authority homes by 2006.
“Things are getting worse. The Government promised to halve homelessness between 2000 and 2005 and already last year figures have shown a slight increase.”
He added: “If we don’t invest in our people, if we don’t provide shelter we are going to create an ever worsening problem.”
But the claims were rejected by housing minister Noel Ahern.
“I think a lot of good work has happened in the last few years and it is unfortunate and misleading to talk about policies not working,” he told Irish radio.
He said that of those currently classed as homeless, around 100 were sleeping on the streets, 700 to 800 were using hostels and the remainder were living in temporary bed and breakfast accommodation.
“Money has been put in. We might be slipping very slightly behind our targets but we are a long way down the road to achieving what we aimed,” he added.
