Taoiseach’s Comments Spark Outrage
The Irish Prime Minister (Taoiseach) Micheál Martin has come under fire for comments in which he compared Ireland’s deepening homelessness crisis to hospital waiting lists — remarks campaigners described as a “poor choice of words.”
Speaking on Tuesday, Mr Martin was asked when homelessness levels might start to decline. In response, he said:
“What I’m more interested in is, it’s a bit like hospital waiting lists. It’s not the number on the waiting list, it’s how fast you get treated.”
He added that the goal was to “prevent people becoming homeless in the first place,” but where that was not possible, focus should be on “how fast we can get them out” of emergency accommodation.
However, the comments drew sharp criticism from housing advocates, including Focus Ireland, who said the analogy trivialised the crisis.
‘Poor Choice of Words’ — Focus Ireland Responds
Focus Ireland’s Head of Communications, Roughan McNamara, said the Taoiseach’s remarks were “a poor choice of words,” stressing that homelessness was not an inevitable condition like illness.
“People go to hospitals because they are sick; they do not have to become homeless,” he said. “Preventing homelessness is entirely possible. While the Taoiseach did mention prevention later, this should be the main objective as it’s the key to ending this human suffering.”
Mr McNamara urged the Government to “intensify targeted prevention efforts” and set clear timelines to end long-term family homelessness.
“No child should be without a home in Ireland,” he said. “Yet, there are now a record 5,145 homeless children. We have a duty to chrange this urgently and protect all children.”
Government Defends Approach
In an interview with the Irish Examiner, Mr Martin said the upcoming Housing Action Plan would better integrate homelessness and housing policies.
He said the “most effective way” to tackle the crisis was through social housing, but promised to expand the Housing First scheme which provides homes and supports for people in long-term homelessness.
According to the latest Department of Housing data, 16,353 people were homeless at the end of August including 11,208 adults and 5,145 children the highest figure since records began.
Mr Martin also confirmed that discussions were ongoing between the Government and banks to create a new financing scheme aimed at providing equity to small and medium-sized builders.
He said he hoped to see “affordable rates” made available, with potential involvement from the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund to boost housing delivery.
Editing by M10News Political Desk | Contact: politics@m10news.com
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