Westmeath TD calls for winter evictions ban amid rising homelessness

Sorca Clarke, the Mullingar-based Sinn Féin TD, said rising homelessness figures in Westmeath have highlighted a need for a ban on evictions to be introduced this winter.

"There were 50 people in Department of Housing-funded emergency accommodation at the end of last month in Westmeath. The figures are increasing each month," said Deputy Clarke.

“Across the state, all categories of homelessness are up, including families and single people.

"With social housing targets not being met and more single property landlords leaving the market, this is a dire and worsening crisis.

"The news comes in a week when the Minister for Housing failed to get any increase in social housing targets included in Budget 2023 nor funding for any new initiative to prevent homelessness."

Deputy Clarke called on Housing Minister Darragh O'Brien to "immediately" introduce a winter ban on evictions.

"He should follow the lead of Nicola Sturgeon in Scotland who introduced an emergency winter ban on evictions earlier this month," she said.

"The Minister also needs to accelerate the tenant-in-situ scheme to prevent more families becoming homeless and increase and accelerate the delivery of social homes.

“The housing crisis is devastating the lives of people in Westmeath. People here deserve better and they need to see the government deliver real and meaningful change urgently to end the housing crisis."

The number of people homeless in Ireland hit a new record high, of 10,805, in August.