Thousands of Children to Spend Summer Days in Hubs, Hotels and B&Bs as Schools Close Amidst a Rise in Homelessness Figures

Barnardos is calling on the Government to acknowledge that current policies are not working as child homelessness figures continue to rise. There are now 3,826 children living in emergency accommodation - the highest number ever.

June Tinsley, Head of Advocacy, Barnardos said: "Numbers have increased in a majority of regions across the country. The Minister for Housing, Planning & Local Government has attributed the latest increase to a small number of families with a large number of children - it is important to emphasise the impact of homelessness on a child's development and wellbeing is the same regardless of their family size. Every child should have a safe and secure place to call home. While the number of families in emergency accommodation in Dublin has decreased, the overall national number of families in emergency accommodation has increased reminding us that this really is a national crisis.

"As schools across the country close for the summer, the thousands of children living in emergency accommodation will be left to spend long summer days coping with the reality of living in hubs, hotels and B&Bs. School provides a sense of routine, distraction and normality for children whose lives are otherwise dominated by the insecurity of homelessness. It is a tragedy that the summer holidays of almost 4,000 children will be tarnished forever by their experience of homelessness. The Government needs to acknowledge that current policies are not working - rapid solutions are needed to limit the long-term damage being done to thousands of children across the country."