Longford’s views sought on Child and Family Homelessness action plan

The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne TD, today launched a public consultation seeking public input on the development of a dedicated and targeted Child and Family Homelessness Action Plan.

The plan, which is being developed as part of the government's new Housing Action Plan, ‘Delivering Homes, Building Communities’, acknowledges that homelessness is the single most pressing social issue faced by the country. The plan aims to introduce a number of key measures to tackle the problem. 

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Particular emphasis will be placed on prevention measures and initiatives to accelerate exits and reduce the time spent by children and their families in emergency accommodation.

In addition, the plan will address issues currently experienced by children in emergency accommodation, so additional supports can be implemented in areas such as education, nutrition, and mental health as well as for parents and expectant mothers.

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne TD today said, “This is critical work. I will not allow this to be a plan that sits on paper. It must be prioritised and implemented with urgency and I want to gather as many views as possible first in order to feed into it and ensure it’s well rounded, responsive and delivers for all those who need it most, the young people affected by precarious living conditions.”

The new Housing Action Plan, ‘Delivering Homes, Building Communities’, has already set out a number of key measures to help tackle the issue of homelessness.

These include a dedicated capital funding of €100 million in 2026 for the acquisition of second-hand properties to support the exit of families longest in homeless emergency accommodation.

The Child and Family Homelessness Action Plan will be a crucial part of the overall approach to tackling homelessness.

Interested parties are asked to make submissions focusing on key priority areas and additional measures that can be taken to address child and family homelessness.

All responses received will be considered and will inform the development of the Child and Family Homelessness Action Plan, which is due to be published in the second quarter of 2026.

Closing date for receipt of submissions is close of business, Friday 6 February 2026. 

Submissions - which are welcomed from all interested parties - should be no more than 2,000 words and should focus on key priority areas and additional measures that can be taken to address child and family homelessness.

If desired, your submission could include a short background note on your interest in this issue and you can include references to any further material that you believe is relevant to the development of the new action plan.

You can send your submission via email to childfamilyactionplan@housing.gov.ie or by post to the Homelessness Policy, Funding and Delivery Section, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Custom House, Dublin 1, D01 W6X0.

Full details can be found on the department's website here.

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