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21/08/2008
Homelessness Plan Criticised By Opposition
The Government's new plan to tackle Ireland's homelessness problem has been given a less than impressed reception by opposition parties.
The document called ‘The Way Home, a strategy to address adult homelessness in Ireland 2008-2013’ sets out a target of 2010 for the total elimination of long-term homelessness and places a statutory obligation on local authorities to develop homeless action plans.
However, Fine Gael's Housing Spokesman, Terence Flanagan TD said the publication is sheer evidence that previous government targets will fail.
"The Government has previously made a commitment to end long term homelessness by 2010. The publication of a new four year Strategy on Homelessness appears to admit that this commitment will not materialize," said minister Flanagan.
The Labour party shared many of the concerns of Fine Gael, although admitted the policy was to be welcomed, and is well intentioned.
Ciarán Lynch, the Labour spokesperson on Housing and Local Government said the proposal provides no clarity on what the actual priorities are, what the targets will be, how and when resources will be allocated, and who will be responsible for delivering on services.
Minister Lynch said: "Ending homelessness is possible and ensuring an adequate supply of housing would be a good start. According to the NESC, we need 10,000 social housing units per year, a target that Labour fully supports, but unfortunately the Government is falling lamentably short in this regard."
He added there are currently an estimated 5,000 people classified as homeless, with over 40,000 on local authority housing lists.
(DW)
The document called ‘The Way Home, a strategy to address adult homelessness in Ireland 2008-2013’ sets out a target of 2010 for the total elimination of long-term homelessness and places a statutory obligation on local authorities to develop homeless action plans.
However, Fine Gael's Housing Spokesman, Terence Flanagan TD said the publication is sheer evidence that previous government targets will fail.
"The Government has previously made a commitment to end long term homelessness by 2010. The publication of a new four year Strategy on Homelessness appears to admit that this commitment will not materialize," said minister Flanagan.
The Labour party shared many of the concerns of Fine Gael, although admitted the policy was to be welcomed, and is well intentioned.
Ciarán Lynch, the Labour spokesperson on Housing and Local Government said the proposal provides no clarity on what the actual priorities are, what the targets will be, how and when resources will be allocated, and who will be responsible for delivering on services.
Minister Lynch said: "Ending homelessness is possible and ensuring an adequate supply of housing would be a good start. According to the NESC, we need 10,000 social housing units per year, a target that Labour fully supports, but unfortunately the Government is falling lamentably short in this regard."
He added there are currently an estimated 5,000 people classified as homeless, with over 40,000 on local authority housing lists.
(DW)
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