Clare Homeless Charity Brands Taoiseach Homelessness Comments "Disappointing"

A Clare homeless charity has branded comments by the Taoiseach on homelessness as "disappointing" and says they ignore the "deeply traumatic" effects of living in emergency accommodation. Micheál Martin has come under fire for claiming homelessness figures are "a bit like hospital waiting lists" in that "it's not the number on the waiting list; it's how fast you get treated". Focus Ireland has called the statement a "poor choice of words", saying "people go to hospitals because they are sick; they do not have to become homeless". Head of Policy and Communications at Novas, which operates a small family hub in Ennis, Una Burns, has been telling Clare FM's Seán Lyons regardless of how much time people spend with homeless services, the experience often leaves long-lasting wounds.