I spoke in the Dáil on promised legislation asking on the progress of a proposal for having a directly elected mayor for major cities like Dublin and Cork. The current situation I believe leaves both Dublin and Cork at a competitive disadvantage with similar-size cities in Britain and in Europe, in terms of strategic planning, transport, tourism and attracting foreign business.

The February homeless figures released today confirm that homelessness and in particular child and family homelessness is spiralling out of control.

The total number of people officially homeless is 9,807 up 32% on the same month last year and up 8% on January 2018.

That’s a monthly increase of 701 people.

The number of homeless adults is 6052 up 24% on the same month last year and up 4% on January 2018. That’s a monthly increase of 215.

The number of homeless children is 3755 up 47% on the same month last year and up 15% on January 2018.

488 children became homeless last month. That is the single biggest increase in child homelessness on record.

The February figures show that the number of homeless families is now 1,739 up 40% on the same month last year and up 15% on January 2018. An increase of 222 families.

The figures for homelessness for both January and February show that it homelessness is accelerating at dramatic pace.

The response of the government to homelessness if you could call it that is simply not working.