Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 6 May 2026
544. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of persons in emergency accommodation for (i) less than 6 months, (ii) 6–12 months, (iii) 1–2 years, and (iv) more than 2 years, and whether such data is disaggregated by nationality or immigration status; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33250/26]
View answer551. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the recorded outcomes for persons exiting emergency accommodation, including transition to social housing, private rental, return to family accommodation or other outcomes; and whether such outcomes are analysed by household type or nationality; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33268/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 544 and 551 together.
My Department’s role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of local authorities in addressing homelessness at a local level.
My Department currently gathers and publishes data on a monthly basis on the number of homeless persons accommodated in emergency accommodation funded and overseen by local authorities. These reports are based on data provided by local authorities, produced through the Pathway Accommodation & Support System (PASS).
The monthly homelessness report includes details of individuals, families and the dependants of these families who accessed emergency accommodation during the relevant count week of the month in question. The most recently published data is in respect of March 2026. The reports are collated on a regional basis and are available on my Department's website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/collections/homelessness-data and are also published to the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation's open data portal [https://data.gov.ie/].
My Department also publishes quarterly progress reports which are based on quarterly performance reports submitted by the nine regional lead authorities responsible for the administration of homeless services at local level. These quarterly performance reports include details of the numbers of individuals prevented from entering emergency accommodation, and those exiting emergency accommodation into tenancies and the duration of stay in emergency accommodation. The quarterly progress report summarises the data submitted to the Department.
The duration of stay data of single and family households is reported as six-monthly bands ranging from less than six months to more than 24 months. These bands refer to consecutive stays in emergency accommodation and are based on a point-in-time count, informed by emergency accommodation usage on the last night in the quarter.
Exit data for single and family households is reported by tenancy type including exits to local authority lettings, Approved Housing Body (AHB) lettings, long-term supported accommodation and private rented (including HAP and RAS). The individual regional Performance reports also include details of other departures of individuals from homeless emergency accommodation including return to family and friends and departure to medical facilities.
Progress and Performance Reports are available on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/collections/homelessness-data/.
