‘You only care now because a man died outside the Dáil’

A man claiming to be homeless for eight years interrupted Environment Minister Alan Kelly as he promised to tackle the crisis last night, telling him those in power only cared now because "someone froze to death outside the Dáil".

David Finn, from Clondalkin in Dublin City, made the protest as Mr Kelly promised to ensure all rough sleepers in the capital were in accommodation “if they want it” by Christmas — and did not rule out asking Nama to fill the void.

As Labour’s deputy leader spoke to reporters outside the Custom House after five hours of intense meetings with homeless charities, opposition TDs, state agencies and local council representatives, Mr Finn shouted him down, insisting that the fact it “takes a man to die” before the homeless crisis was taken seriously was “disgraceful”.

The 34-year-old said he had been “couch-surfing” in friends’ homes for the past eight years and had been told he could be on a social housing waiting list for a decade. Despite guarantees from all sides of the Dáil in recent days that the realities and causes of homelessness would be addressed after Jonathan Corrie’s death in the shadow of Leinster House on Monday, Mr Finn told the Irish Examiner that the newfound focus was “too little too late”.

“It takes a man to die outside the Dáil before you’ll do anything. It’s disgraceful, they should be ashamed. Another man died a year or two ago on the streets. He’s just a distant memory to them. They only care now because it was outside their building,” he said.

The interruption in the press briefing by Mr Kelly — who told his media adviser to let Mr Finn speak — came as the senior minister issued a series of ambitious promises to solve the rough-sleeper homeless crisis.The Labour deputy leader insisted that “by Christmas”, there would be “no reason for someone to sleep rough”, adding “if funds are needed” they would be found.

He said “a number of offers” of properties to help address the problem had already been made, and did not rule out asking Nama to make properties available.

In the immediate term, Mr Kelly said local authorities in Dublin would be told to put 50% of all new housing allocations towards “vulnerable groups” and the “long-term homeless” for the next six months, potentially housing 300 people.

He said 200 more emergency beds would also be made available in the capital, and that further nationwide plans would be put to Cabinet next Tuesday.

Dublin City Lord Mayor Christy Burke told reporters the Christmas deadline was possible if everyone pulled the same way.

The Independent councillor said the message from the minister was not “spoofing” and the “most sincere” comments he has heard in 30 years in politics.

Groups like Threshold, the Simon Community and the Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin welcomed the moves last night. A separate meeting of 23 groups with Mr Burke is due to take place today.