Calls For Greater Government Transparency Following Spike In Homeless Children

Calls have been made for greater Government transparency around the length of time homeless children are spending in emergency accommodation.

It comes in the wake of new figures released by Clare County Council, which show that an additional 17 children here entered homelessness last month.

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There were 33 children availing of homeless services in Clare at the end of March, but last month that jumped by over a half to 50.

In addition, there are 66 adults living in emergency accommodation such as hotels and B&Bs, while the homeless centre at Laurel Lodge in Ennis is at full capacity, with all 13 beds occupied.

Betty Walsh, who’s a local election candidate for the Social Democrats in the Shannon Municipal District, says the government needs to wake up to the problem:

In the wake of the figures, Midwest Simon is calling on the Government to publish the length of time children are spending in emergency accommodation.

General Manager Jackie Bonfield is surprised that numbers are continuing to rise in Clare, when nationally they’re stabilising, and says there needs to be a greater focus on delivering supports to rural areas.