Publication of homeless figures

QUESTION

To ask the Minister for Housing; Planning and Local Government if his Department will continue to publish monthly homeless figures; and his plans to amend this to quarterly or other less frequent publications.
- Eoin Ó Broin T.D.

To ask the Minister for Housing; Planning and Local Government the data publication schedule of homeless figures; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
- Darragh O'Brien T.D.

To ask the Minister for Housing; Planning and Local Government his plans to change the data publication schedule of homeless figures; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
- Darragh O'Brien T.D.

REPLY

My Department currently publishes data on a monthly basis on the number of homeless persons accommodated in emergency accommodation funded and overseen by housing authorities.  These reports are based on data provided by housing authorities, produced through the Pathway Accommodation and Support System (PASS), and are published in the month subsequent to the reporting period in question.  
My Department is examining the current reporting arrangements with a view to ensuring that the best possible data is available to support policy making. No decision has been taken on amending the reporting arrangements at this time.