Sinn Féin's Gerry Adams has urged the government to acquire vacant homes through compulsory purchase orders in order to combat homelessness.

The Louth TD spoke in the Dáil earlier this week, saying: "In my constituency, Louth County Council has rightly acquired vacant homes through compulsory purchase orders, on which I commend it."

Teachta Adams outlined the problem: "Some 10,000 citizens are in emergency accommodation, homelessness among pensioners is on the increase, and a total of 3,689 children are homeless. Child homelessness has increased by 7% under Fine Gael-led governments. Almost 150,000 people are on waiting lists, including over 4,000 in Louth.

-- Advertisement --

"On Tuesday the RTB confirmed rents are still increasing and have reached new peaks, including in Louth. Behind these statistics, families struggling to keep a roof over their heads are desperately trying to put together the money to find a home they can afford.

"The Government has failed to tackle the housing crisis at any level, failed to produce a review of the Rebuilding Ireland policy, failed to produce a vacant homes strategy and is failing to build the social homes that are urgently required," he concluded.

(CM/MH)