Meath sleepout protest to highlight children being ‘robbed of stability and security’ amid homelessness crisis
A sleepout will be held in Ashbourne to highlight the record number of children living in homelessness this Christmas.
Sinn Féin TD for Meath East, Darren O'Rourke, who will take part in the sleepout, described the situation as a “direct result of government failure” and called for urgent, “radical” action from the Minister for Housing.
The latest official figures show that 5,274 children are now living in emergency accommodation as of October 2025. Mr O’Rourke described this as a “deepening and devastating crisis.”
“This figure is not just a statistic. It represents a generation of young lives being shaped by insecurity, fear, and a system that has failed them,” he said.
“This milestone, exceeding 5,000 for the first time and marking a 14pc increase in just one year, reflects a profound policy failure."
Charities have also reported that for at least 1,000 of these children, this will be their second or even third Christmas spent in the “limbo” of emergency accommodation.
“These children are being robbed of the stability, privacy, and security that is the fundamental right of every child,” Mr O’Rourke said.
“The damage of homelessness extends far beyond a lack of permanent address, it impacts mental and physical health, educational attainment, and a child’s very sense of self and safety in the world."
“Our sleepout in Ashbourne is a stark and necessary act to highlight the devastation behind these record numbers. We are not just talking about figures; we are talking about over 5,000 children who will wake up on Christmas morning without a home. They will wake in a cramped room, with no space to play with their new toys, no kitchen to share a family meal, and no security to call their own."
“The impact on these children is immeasurable. They experience anxiety, shame, and disruption to their education and friendships. They are growing up in a system that tells them they do not deserve a basic home.”
Deputy O’Rourke called on Minister for Housing, James Browne TD, to treat the situation as an emergency, saying that “immediate steps” are needed to ban no-fault evictions into homelessness and accelerate the delivery of affordable and social housing.
“The government has the resources and the ability to solve this crisis but it lacks the political will. We stand in absolute solidarity with every child facing the trauma of homelessness this Christmas, and we will continue to fight for the change they desperately need."
The sleepout, taking place on Tuesday, December 23, also aims to raise funds for St Vincent de Paul (SVP), which Mr O’Rourke said has been on the “frontlines trying to cushion the blow for families in desperate need.”
SVP received over 250,000 requests for help last year, providing millions of euros in support for food and heating.