Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy survived a knife-edge motion of no confidence – as homeless figures soared to their highest level ever.
TDs voted by 56 votes to 53 against the motion, with 35 abstentions.
It is the second time in just over a year that opposition politicians have called for his head through a motion of no confidence as the housing crisis worsens all the time.
There are now a record 10,514 people homeless in Ireland, including over 3,800 children.
Murphy is now facing mounting calls to quit. Tony Walsh, the founder of the Feed Our Homeless charity, said: “These latest figures are disgraceful to say the least.
“Month on month year on year the numbers of individuals and families and also children entering into homelessness has constantly risen.
“Nowhere near enough housing units are being built to meet the needs of people and families who are desperately waiting on a place to call home.
“The numbers of homeless children living in hotel emergency accommodation for long periods of time is totally unceptable. Thousands of homeless children will spend this Christmas in a hotel room which is unacceptable.”
Mr Murphy survived through a combination of Government and some independent TDs voting against the motion, along with Fianna Fáil crucially abstaining.
But the beleaguered minister still got a battering in the Dáil as his critics lined up to point out his failings.
Rise TD, Paul Murphy, slammed Eoghan Murphy’s broken promises to build more social and affordable homes.
He said: “It is spin, not based on reality.
“In more plain language, it is a lie.”
And outside of Leinster House Mr Murphy got a mauling too as campaigners for the homeless blamed him for the worst ever homelessness figures released last night.
The Simon Community described the situation as “shameful” and said it underlines the need for urgent Government action.
Simon’s spokesman, Wayne Stanley, said: “As we face into Christmas, we must not allow ourselves to become immune to the continuing worsening of the housing and homelessness crisis.
“We need to remember that this homelessness and housing crisis is not a normal situation, and should not be seen as acceptable on any level.”
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar took a political gamble when he upped the ante and put his neck on the line for Mr Murphy.
The Government Press Secretary, Nick Miller, told reporters before the crucial vote that Mr Varadkar would have gone to the country if he lost tonight’s motion.
Mr Miller said: “There is no way the Government could function if they lost on a crucial issue like this.
“The Taoiseach appoints the Cabinet, so this is almost like a proxy vote in the Taoiseach.”
