An Irish Mirror case study of a homeless working family living in a tent because they earn too much to qualify for State assistance took centre stage in the Dáil on Tuesday afternoon.
Graham King, his wife Patricia and their two children, Priya, nine and Grayson, 10, who are both autistic, pleaded with the Government for help through the Irish Mirror 10 days ago.
And today Taoiseach Micheál Martin answered this plea after it was raised by Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald during Leaders’ Questions.
Read More: Homeless family with two autistic kids living in tent in plea to Taoiseach
Ms McDonald said: “When a working family - a family trying to do everything right - ends up living in a tent, it is surely a sign that the system is broken beyond recognition.”
And Mr Martin responded: “It is not acceptable that a family would be living in a tent.”
Ms McDonald also said about the case, which was followed-up by RTE on their new Monday Night Live programme on Monday night: “The raw and human impact of the housing crisis was laid bare in heartbreaking fashion on RTÉ last night.
“With great courage and dignity, Graham King told how he and his family live in a tent.
“They have nowhere else to go.
“His wife, Patricia, and his two children, Grayson and Priya, stay in the tent. He stays in the car. They live day to day.
“Graham said: ‘I’m on disability and half carer's. My wife works. We have to run a car and feed kids. The expenses add up.’
“Speaking about the conditions in the tent and how his children are coping, he said: ‘It was a game at first. It’s not so much anymore. The last couple of nights haven’t been good. Wind, rain - that type of weather has already destroyed one tent. This one is holding up, but I don’t know how long it will last.’”
She added: “He (Mr King) also said: ‘I haven't got much sleep because I still have to be looking after the tent when the rest of them are sleeping in it.’
“About his children, he said, ‘the children know they're homeless but they don't know the meaning of what that entails’ and that they cope by occupying themselves.’
“There are playgrounds nearby and a walkway, and they feed the ducks.”
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