Politicians in bid to end homelessnesss

Political leaders will outline their plans today to end homelessness within the next four years.

Political leaders will outline their plans today to end homelessness within the next four years.

Representatives from all the main parties will go head to head in a public debate over the best way to achieve the ambitious target.

Homelessness campaigners say the talks at Trinity College Dublin will be a major test for potential government partners ahead of next year's general election. Party leaders and representatives will be asked to spell out their policies on the issue before being quizzed by an audience.

Minister for Housing Noel Ahern, the leaders of Fine Gael, Labour, Green Party and Sinn Fein's Dail leader will join Independent TD Finian McGrath and a Progressive Democrats representative for the open debate.

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Patrick Burke, spokesman for the MakeRoom campaign and Director of the Simon Communities of Ireland, urged people to turn out and put pressure on the politicians to end homelessness.

"Whatever party - or combination of parties - form the next Government, the opportunity to end homelessness will be in their gift," he said. "Last week's budget could have delivered much more in terms of resources for social housing, which is a critical response in ending homelessness.

"However, we hope that much more will be done to end homelessness over the next three years by whatever Government takes office," he said.