Kildare man says Apple windfall could turn the tide on homelessness

The recent announcement from the European Court of Justice that Apple has to pay the Irish Government €13 billion in back taxes could be the opportunity that we have been waiting for to turn the tide for on our homeless ‘fiasco’.

That’s according to well-known Kildare businessman and the Chairman of non-profit organisation Tiglin, Aubrey Mc Carthy.

“Such a windfall presents the state with a remarkable opportunity to tackle the homeless crisis once and for all. This opportunity must not be missed and without further delay a task force should be assembled with a defined budget, clear KPIs and let us make the difference that our citizens have been calling for,” he said.

“It is vital that it is not seen that money will simply solve this issue. Leadership, defined direction and accountability is needed first and foremost. It is too simplistic to say that money will build houses. In an Irish context, we have been weighed in the balance and found wanting when it comes to addressing the housing needs of our nation.

“We see repetitious uses of the phrase ‘homeless crisis’. The evidence of this is record numbers of people within emergency accommodation, expanding housing lists and a housing market that is struggling to meet demands. The issue here is our response is not a ‘crisis response’. In a crisis people move quickly, policies change and collective action occurs to address the problems.

In establishing a task force that is charged with looking at removing blockages within the system and getting experts around a table, barriers can be removed and the process can be expedited.

“In recent years we have seen Ireland’s track record in crisis response. During COVID we witnessed unity and the power of multi agency responses. Legislation was changed quickly to restrict people’s movements and while lives were still lost, the spread was lessened therefore buffering the health services somewhat at critical times.

“During the commencement of the invasion of Ukraine, again we witnessed government agencies, NGOs and volunteers come together, legislation was again altered to make our country flexible to the needs of our displaced neighbours. These responses happen quickly, we worked in less then perfect scenarios and used ‘what was in our hand’ at the time to respond. This was crisis response.

“Currently, we are not seeing this response or leadership to our housing crisis. The Government now has a substantial amount of money available to be carefully allocated to housing initiatives that will provide lasting benefits for Irish families.” Aubrey, a Punchestown native, recalled that in 2016 he and their CEO Phil Thompson (from Newbridge) addressed the Joint Houses of the Oireachtas outlining proposals to help solve the housing crisis.

“Back then, we were assured by the then Minister for Housing Simon Coveney stated that the Government would eradicate homelessness by 2020. Since then, we have witnessed record growth in homeless figures and an Irish public that feels cheated and let down,” he said. “The rescue boat has arrived. This money must not simply be ‘assigned to a cause’, we need to see impact and not repeat the mistakes of the past.”