Galway families facing homelessness need more support

Over 250 families and children in emergency accommodation

COPE Galway has criticised the absence of a dedicated funding stream in Budget 2027 for the long-promised Child and Family Homelessness Action Plan.

Highlighting the 250 children and their families living in emergency accommodation in Galway, the charity said that the government has missed an opportunity to send a clear message to those facing homelessness.

“On top of these we are seeing more and more people sleeping rough,” said Martin O’Connor of COPE Galway.

“This Budget announcement was an opportunity missed by Government to clearly say to those who are homeless ‘you are our priority’,” he added.

The charity acknowledged the Government’s commitment of €3.2 billion for social housing delivery and €2.2 billion to support social housing needs and homelessness services.

Older people face difficult winter

However, Mr O’Connor said that investment alone would not be enough without “real and effective measures to tackle the crisis”.

The Galway charity also raised concerns around the increasing number of people impacted by the cost-of-living crisis and questioned the adequacy of measures to address this in Budget 2027.

Mr O’Connor highlighted that people in the community, particularly the older people are facing a difficult winter.

“The minimal increases of €10 to social welfare rates and €5 to fuel allowance aren’t enough at this time of such uncertainty,” he continued.

In its Budget 2027 submission, COPE Galway had called for a €20 weekly increase in social welfare rates, higher Fuel Allowance and Household Benefits Package, and measures to help women and children escape domestic violence and secure safe, long-term housing.

It has also proposed a range of measures to support older people age well and remain in their communities, adding that the number of people aged over 65 is projected to double by 2051.