![\"\"](\"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/2.36481456.jpg\")
The Government has defended its homeless strategy amid claims from the opposition that there are no signs of the crisis abating.<\/p>\nThe Government has defended its homeless strategy amid claims from the opposition that there are no signs of the crisis abating.<\/p>\n
Simon Coveney said the housing department was \u201cdramatically responding\u201d to the crisis and he pledged the provision of up to 10,000 social homes annually.<\/p>\n
The Tanaiste made the comments after opposition TDs criticised the latest homeless figures.<\/p>\n
Sinn Fein TD Eoin O Broin said the statistics made for grim reading.<\/p>\n
Official figures released on Wednesday showed that 9,652 people were living in emergency accommodation in April, including 3,689 children. Almost 300 people were taken off the register for April because they are living in rental homes rather than emergency accommodation.<\/p>\n
Mr O Broin claimed that under the Fine Gael Government child homelessness increased by 74%, and by 30% from when housing minister Eoghan Murphy took up office.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Government\u2019s housing plan is failing and that the minister for housing is failing,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo amount of hard hat photo tweets will change this fact. There are more homeless adults and children today than when your Government took office and they\u2019re spending longer periods of time in emergency.\u201d<\/p>\n
He was also critical of the homeless families being removed from the figures for a second month in a row under a reclassification by some local authorities.<\/p>\n
Mr Coveney told the Dail: \u201cThere\u2019s an absolute acceptance in Government that we have a crisis here that needs a comprehensive response and it\u2019s getting there.\u201d<\/p>\n
“We have unfortunately an over-reliance in the short term on the private rental market to try to deal with the housing demands of many, many families<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cWe have a very significant and comprehensive plan to deal with the housing crisis over time.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have unfortunately an over-reliance in the short term on the private rental market to try to deal with the housing demands of many, many families that need the State\u2019s intervention and help.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Tanaiste said last year nearly 26,000 people were provided with a social home by the State across the various mechanisms.<\/p>\n
Labour Party TD Tommy Broughan rejected Mr Coveney\u2019s assertion that progress was being made.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s no way you\u2019re getting there in terms of homelessness,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Mr Coveney said he shared the Labour Party TD\u2019s concerns but he could not accept the \u201cpretense\u201d that the Government did not have a pipeline of social housing.<\/p>\n
He said last year 2,300 social houses were built and that those figures were going to continue to rise.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are going to get to a point where we are delivering between 7,000 and 10,000 social houses per year,\u201d Mr Coveney added.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe funding is in place.\u201d<\/p>\n