A ‘scandal’: 93 families in Cork city to spend Christmas in emergency accommodation 

It is a “scandal” that 93 families in Cork city will spend Christmas in emergency accommodation this year, a councillor has said.

This figure includes two families who will be doing so for their fourth Christmas in a row, or more.

The information was provided to Sinn Féin councillor Michelle Gould at this week’s meeting of Cork City Council.

Of the families, 67 will spend their first Christmas in emergency accommodation, 21 their second, three their third, and two their fourth or more without a home.

Additionally, 307 single adults will spend Christmas in emergency accommodation for the first time, 131 for the second, 33 for the third, and 25 for their fourth or more.

So far in 2025, Cork City Council has spent more than €21m on emergency accommodation, the council’s housing director, Nicky Carroll, added.

Ms Gould said: 

“I can’t get my head around the fact that 93 families will spend Christmas in emergency accommodation, and that two families have done this for four or more years. I think it’s a scandal”.

She asked the council if there was a plan in place for families that have spent the longest time in emergency accommodation.

Mr Carroll said that there was a plan, and that the council was working with these families, and all families, every day.

He also clarified to Independent councillor Paudie Dinneen, in response to another question at this week’s meeting, that residents will be permitted to leave for Christmas, such as to visit family, without losing their emergency accommodation.

“All residents in emergency accommodation are automatically permitted to two nights per month leave from their accommodation,” Mr Carroll said.

“They are required to notify the Accommodation Placement Office should they wish to avail of this provision. If residents require additional nights away from the emergency accommodation provided to them, this is examined on a case-by-case basis.

“In relation to the 24th, 25th, and 26th of December, the APS office has approved absences for this period, should residents wish to stay elsewhere, but they are still required to notify the APS office of such absences in advance.”

Monthly figures published by the Government last week showed that homelessness in Cork has risen to another record high, with 712 adults in emergency accommodation in October.

This marks a 5% increase from the previous month, and the first time the figure has been more than 700, and with more than 600 people in emergency accommodation for the first time in January.

Across Cork and Kerry in October, 109 families, consisting 174 adults and 230 children, were in emergency accommodation, the Government data also showed.