Quit holiday and deal with homeless issue, Kelly urged

The Department of the Environment has insisted the Minister, Alan Kelly, is in regular contact with his officials while on holidays as Fianna Fáil called on him to return to work to deal with the problem of homelessness.

Fianna Fáil Dublin spokesman Darragh O’Brien on Wednesday said 616 family homes were subject to repossession orders during the first six months of the year.

He also highlighted the case of three children under the age of six who slept rough with their parents in Dublin this week.

“He should come back from holidays and address this issue,” Mr O’Brien said of the Minister, adding it is not acceptable for Mr Kelly to be on holiday while children and families sleep rough in Dublin.

In response, the Department of the Environment said Mr Kelly, while on a break, is still in the country and is in regular contact with senior officials. It is understood he will be back in work next week.

A further 284 properties, including buy-to-lets and holiday homes, were repossessed in the first half of the year, Mr O’Brien added.

‘Huge number’

He also said 3,395 civil bills were lodged in the first six months of the year, which Fianna Fáil called “the first stage in the repossession process and an indication of the huge number of cases coming down the line”.

“The fact that over 600 family homes have already been repossessed since the start of the year is extremely worrying,” Mr O’Brien said, adding it is disgraceful that families with children are sleeping rough.

“Yet we have a Minister who is a self-professed straight talker and action man who is doing nothing and has stayed silent on this issue.

“The Government may be on holidays, but families cannot wait. We need to hear from Alan Kelly to see what is going to happen.”

Mr O’Brien said Mr Kelly has not followed through on promises made during a homelessness summit in Dublin Castle last December, such as releasing emergency funding to local authorities.

“This Government has been silent on homelessness, inactive on homelessness,” he said. “Alan Kelly needs to realise that a press statement and a press conference doesn’t bring about Government action, or that in itself is not doing something about it.

"Here is the man who showed the highest degree of arrogance by going into Leinster House and talking about his legacy. What we really want him to do now is step up to the plate."