New plan puts homeless children at its heart

Aire promises a more joined-up response for families facing housing insecurity, with €20 million in additional funding behind 43 actions. Shaped partly by young people’s experiences, it brings public services together around prevention, protection and progression.

Children and families experiencing homelessness are at the centre of a new Government action plan, Aire, backed by an additional €20 million and due to begin implementation immediately.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage James Browne published the plan on 11 November. It sets out 43 actions spanning housing, health, education, childcare, youth services and family support, with the aim of improving how services work together.

The plan was developed through engagement across Government and with stakeholders, including children who have experienced homelessness. Its measures seek to prevent homelessness, improve outcomes for children and strengthen support for affected families.

Martin said the name Aire means to pay attention to or take special care of. “Childhood does not pause while we build homes,” he said, adding that the commitment to increase housing supply must be matched by action for children now.

He said children in emergency accommodation have the same rights as other children, including education, family life, privacy, access to sport and culture, and the chance to reach their full potential. The plan includes measures across health, education, housing, nutrition, child protection, youth services and transport.

Browne said homelessness and housing insecurity affect every aspect of a child’s life and require a coordinated response. The plan was informed by frontline practitioners, local authorities, statutory agencies and advocacy organisations, as well as children and families with direct experience of homelessness.

“We have to do better,” the minister said, adding that he wanted to move from the plan’s publication to delivering secure homes and places in which people can grow up and grow old.

Aire is organised around three pillars:

Prevention of homelessness.
Protection for children and families affected.
Progression towards improved outcomes.

The Government said increasing housing supply remains central to addressing homelessness. It pointed to more than €9 billion in capital funding for social and affordable housing in 2026 and recently introduced tenancy protections. It also said a record number of newly built social homes were delivered in 2025, with the figure expected to rise in 2026. While housing supply is increased, the plan is intended to provide practical support and better-coordinated services to families in the meantime. The Government said it will monitor delivery, assess progress and consider whether further action is needed. The full child and family homelessness action plan is available on the Government website.