Govt Must Do More To Tackle Child Poverty And Homelessness

Marking the UN's Universal Children's Day, Sinn Féin Spokesperson on Children and Youth Affairs Denise Mitchell, has called on the government to do more to tackle child poverty and homelessness.

Deputy Mitchell said: "We saw in September that the number of homeless children in this State exceeded 3,000 for the first time. The Taoiseach's dismissive attitude to the seriousness of the issue of homelessness in recent weeks has been shameful.

"One homeless child in this State is one-too-many and for the Taoiseach to try and distract from the issue by pointing at other countries records is pathetic.

"What we need is a step-change in how we tackle homelessness, because the increasing numbers clearly show that the Government's approach is not working," she said.

"We in Sinn Féin have been consistent in saying that it is through the building of social and affordable housing – coupled with real rent certainty and security of tenure – that we can help bring about an end to the homelessness crisis in Ireland, because every child has the right to a home."

(MH)