A homeless crisis has been building in Dublin for the past two years and, unless additional measures are taken, it will continue to worsen. The number of very young children confined to unsuitable hotel and B&B emergency accommodation with their families is particularly worrying. In little more than 12 months, the number of children in this category has grown to 1,638 and presents this Government – and its successor – with a major social challenge for 2016.
A shortage of accommodation, rapidly rising rents and evicted families are at the heart of this communal disaster. But Government efforts to fast track a supply of emergency accommodation have been delayed, in some instances, by local councillors and what are, in effect, vigilante groups. A full-blown emergency was required before councils took action to build social housing and their reluctance to ramp up a supply of cheaper, better-insulated modular homes remains.
Advocacy director of Focus Ireland Mike Allen has categorised as "deeply shocking" the number of homeless families with very young children that spent Christmas in cramped emergency accommodation in Dublin. Such conditions may have long-term emotional, educational and nutritional effects on their lives.
In a pre-election competitive frenzy, political parties have been offering to abolish household and water charges; to reduce or abolish the Universal Social Charge; to cut income taxes and increase public wages. United States taxation levels were also promised. These individualistic, “what’s in it for me?” political blandishments represent a form of instant gratification that led to the last economic crash and a hollowing out of necessary public services. If good quality health, education and policing services are to exist in the future, along with a properly functioning social housing and welfare system, they will have to be adequately funded. That will require taxation and a fair sharing of the burden.
As the New Year opens, a debate on the nature of society our children may inherit, rather than the composition of government, is needed.