TD reveals case of Mayo man 'living in car with €30 to his name'

A Mayo TD have revealed the case of a Mayo man living in a car with just €30 with his name.

During a debate in Dáil Eireann on homelessness, Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh read into the record an email she received from the person in question.

The letter stated: "I am currently homeless. I have a full-time job. I am living out of my car in between work and seeing my four children.

"I have no money towards getting a deposit for a house. I am currently sitting in my car, with €30 to my name, in the wind and the rain, writing this email."

Deputy Conway-Walsh said this is the reality of homelessness in Ireland today and the government is not doing enough to address it.

She elaborated: "Month after month the numbers increase, and there is failure after failure to get to grips with the housing crisis.

"People are falling between the incompetency of government and the bureaucratic system that paralyses local authorities from fulfilling their statutory responsibility to deliver housing.

"Not a single social or affordable house was built in Mayo in the first nine months of 2023. I struggle to understand how that is even possible.

"It was not until November that any houses were delivered. I welcome those and they are sorely needed, but it is far short of what is needed and far short of the modest targets.

"The government said it would build 151 social and affordable homes in Mayo. It has not even nearly come close."