Family spent five nights sleeping in Ballincollig church after being passed between State agencies

A family of five spent five nights sleeping in a Ballincollig church after being passed between State services when they presented as homeless, a TD has said.

Labour’s Eoghan Kenny raised the issue in the Dáil this week with Taoiseach Micheál Martin, saying that on Thursday of last week he received a phone call from a family of five, including two children aged 16 and 12, who had presented as homeless to Cork County Council in Annabella, Mallow.

“They were told no emergency accommodation was available. The Simon Community in Cork was also full when they made the call,” he said.

“That night, the family of five slept in a church in Ballincollig.” 

Mr Kenny said the family returned to Cork County Council on Friday, only to be referred back to IPAS. “I have seen correspondence in which IPAS directed them back to the local authority, while Cork County Council said it needed clarification from the Department of Justice.” 

Mr Kenny said they were “eventually” given accommodation on Monday night, but had spent five nights sleeping in the church in Ballincollig.

“It is difficult to stand over a system in which a family is passed between State agencies while two children remain homeless,” he said to Mr Martin.

“Will the Government review the legislation and ensure there is a clear, enforceable responsibility to provide emergency accommodation when families present as homeless?” 

 Mr Martin said he did not have the specific background, but acknowledged: “It is not acceptable that a family of five with two children would have to spend time in a church.” 

 He said he presumed that if they had been moved on from an IPAS centre, it was because their residency had been confirmed or they had permission to remain in the State.

Nonetheless, the Taoiseach said: “There have been movements from IPAS centres, but they should be organised and structured better than what happened here.

“I take the Deputy's point. I will not say it is in any way satisfactory. It is not.”