Speaking from her constituency office in Dublin Central Ms. McDonald said: “Of course neither the HSE nor its bosses in the Department of Health and Children have taken any responsibility for the dramatic increase in child homelessness, most of whom are in the greater Dublin area. By 2004 child homelessness had fallen to 495 but by 2009 that figure had increased to nearly 800 with a quarter of these being children under the age of 12.
“It is unacceptable that a single child in our society should be denied the right to a roof over their head. It is particularly galling in the context that Fianna Fáil and the Greens, with the support of Fine Gael and Labour, are intent on savaging front line services and supports over the next four years whilst as much as €11.4 billion continues to be lost to the exchequer each year through the various tax reliefs.
“During my time in the European Parliament I secured majority support from MEPs to end street homelessness throughout the EU by 2015, enabling the European Parliament to actively pressure all European institutions and member states to deliver on the 2015 commitment. Fianna Fáil and the Greens have no commitment to protecting our most vulnerable children, and if Labour and Fine Gael continue to support the government’s failed plan to reduce the deficit to 3% by 2014 through cuts of up to €4 billion or more each year then clearly they have commitment to end child homelessness either. Sinn Féin is now the only party offering a real alternative to the cosy cartel in Leinster House, an alternative that can literally keep the roof over children’s heads.” ENDS
