There are currently 8,000 people living in emergency homeless accommodation, including 3,000 children, throughout Ireland, according to new figures.

The data has been released by The Department of Housing and the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive.

During an Oireachtas Housing Committee hearing on homeless HUBs, Sinn Féin Housing spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin TD called on Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy "to introduce an independent inspection regime for homeless accommodation in Budget 2018".

The Committee hearing heard from Maynooth academics Mary Murphy and Rory Hearne, who published a report on family HUBs in July.

-- Advertisement --

Deputy Ó Broin said: "There is clear evidence both from the Murphy-Hearne Report and from complaints received by the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive that not all emergency accommodation meets basic standards. One of the Reports key recommendations is for a quality standards framework for emergency accommodation and an independent inspection regime.

"The Dublin Regional Homeless Executive and a number of local authorities have been developing a Quality Standards Framework. This work is now complete and has been presented to the Department with a proposal for the establishment of a Quality Standards Office and inspection regime.

"Minister Murphy must include this proposal along with adequate staffing and resources in Budget 2018. The office must be fully independent of both the Department of Housing and the Local Authorities. Its remit must include all emergency accommodation, including commercial hotels and BnBs.

"While the solution to homelessness is the increased provision of social housing, Government must ensure that while in emergency accommodation adults and children must have the highest standards of provision possible."

(CD/LM)