Number of homeless children in Galway more than doubles

There are now 146 children classified as homeless in Galway – more than double last year’s total of 63.

That’s what Independent Deputy Catherine Connolly told the Dáil – as she also revealed that the number of adults without a home in Galway had grown from 182 to 237 over the same period.

Speaking during a debate on housing, she asked if these figures did not constitute a major emergency.

“Given that a person in Galway has been on a waiting list for a house since 2002, is it not time to say our housing policy is not working?” she asked.

“We cannot talk about affordable housing without a direct housing build. The Government must enter the market and send out a strong message. That is the only way to calm the market. We need the market to provide homes, but we need the Government, through local authorities, to build directly in order to bring down the prices,” she added.

In Galway, Deputy Connolly said land was bought at astronomical values when she was a councillor.

“I was part of that, and okayed it,” she said. “Loans were taken out. That land is sitting there, unused. More than two thirds of that land is frozen for a road that will not be built. That is adding to the problem.

“In the meantime, we are looking at the remaining land banks that can be given over to public-private partnerships. Affordable housing will be built on them which will not be affordable. We should be building public housing to balance the market,” she said.

“Is it not the time to haul the county and city managers in every month to update us on their land banks and what is being done with them, and to find out what obstacles are stopping them from being developed?” she asked.

“We have been told there is no problem with money. The money is being spent on Housing Assistance Payments, HAP,” she pointed out.