Galway children and pensioners among West of Ireland's 468 homeless
Almost 200 children and 25 pensioners are homeless in the West of Ireland, new Government figures confirm.
The Monthly Homeless Report for March 2026 revealed that 468 people were living in emergency accommodation last month.
Of these, 257 were in Galway City and County, 194 were in Mayo and 17 were in Roscommon.
A total of 197 children under the age of 18 in the three Western counties were living in private emergency accommodation including hotels and B&Bs.
These belonged to 106 homeless families.
Nationally the homeless count reached 17,517 last month, with almost a third of these (5,571) children.
About 70% of all homeless people in the State are living in emergency accommodation in Dublin.
“Homelessness figures are a national disgrace”
Almost half of the total number of homeless people in Ireland are Irish. About 20% are European or from the UK and 30% are from outside the European Economic Area.
About 60% are male, and 40% female, according to the report.
Helen Ogbu, a Galway City Councillor and Labour Party candidate in the Galway West Bye-Election said the homelessness figures were “a national disgrace”.
She blamed the policies of Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil in Government for causing the “deepening national crisis”.
“We need action now. We need immediate measures to protect renters, a significant increase in public housing delivery, and a clear plan to bring people out of homelessness and prevent others from entering it,” Councillor Ogbu said.
The Social Democrats’ housing spokesperson Rory Hearne pointed to a report last week which highlighted that there were no properties available for rent in Galway City where the landlord accepted HAP (Housing Assistance Payment), the State rent support for tenants.
Deputy Hearne called for the introduction of a no-fault eviction ban to help stop a further rise in homelessness.
Independent Ireland meanwhile has welcomed the Government’s plan to ease planning constraints and allow modular or garden-based homes.
Party leader Michael Collins said this “is not a solution to the housing crisis” but “it is a step in the right direction”.