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LATEST FIGURES SHOW there were 126 fewer people accessing emergency accommodation in March than the month previous, but the government says it ‘erroneously’ overstated previous figures.
The government has published its latest report for March, with figures for homeless adults at 6,035 and the number of homeless children at 3,646, with a total number of 1,720 families in emergency accommodation.
The latest figures show that there were 126 fewer people accessing emergency accommodation in March than February. This is made up of 17 adults, 19 families and 109 dependents.
In February, there were 6,052 adults recorded homeless and 3,755 homeless children.
Family presentations have dropped by almost 50% in the Dublin region from 261 in February to 135 in March.
However, a categorisation error has been identified, which the government says has “overstated the total number of people who are in emergency accommodation in the State”.
Commenting on the error, Minister for Housing Eoghan Murphy said: “A number of local authorities have erroneously categorised individuals and families living in local authority owned or leased housing stock, including some instances of people renting in the private sector but in receipt of social housing supports, as being in emergency accommodation.”
Murphy said that, to date, at least 600 individuals have been identified as having been categorised as homeless and in emergency accommodation when they are not. He added that “some but not all of these individuals have been removed from the total numbers”.
“It is quite clear that the current reporting model needs to be reformed as such errors undermine our ability to properly understand the extent and nature of the problem, as well as inform policy decisions around solutions,” Murphy said.
In a statement today, Peter McVerry Trust, the national housing and homelessness charity, welcomed the small decrease in the number of people accessing emergency accommodation.
“We welcome this small but important decrease in the numbers recorded as accessing homeless services in March. The first two months of the year saw a rapid rise in numbers accessing homeless accommodation, and we are very glad to see a drop off in March,” Pat Doyle, CEO of Peter McVerry Trust, said.
Delay in figures
Echoing his comments this afternoon, Murphy said last Friday that the government needs a better way of collating and reporting Ireland’s homeless figures, as there was a “slight delay” on the release of this month’s.
The numbers for each month are generally reported in and around the 27th of each month.
The minister explained that his department collects the numbers from all the local authorities around the country – but it appears some are better than others in terms of sending their reports to central government. It’s understood that some local authorities have also sent on inaccurate figures in the past, which the department has had to verify and send back, causing undue delays.
“We have at the moment what is a slight delay because some of the local authorities haven’t filed their returns yet – so until I have the numbers I can’t publish them. But that is why we need a more accurate and better structure and form of reporting for our homeless numbers.
Every month they come on a different day and a different time and I know we want to have some consistency so that people can see what is happening – but more importantly so we can understand why it is happening.
“That piece of work is being undertaken at the moment. When it is completed we will be making an announcement about the recommendations we receive about reporting structures,” Murphy said.
With reporting by Christina Finn
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He’s lying. It’s as simple as that.
No charity getting government funding for the homeless can dispute his figures in fear of losing the funding because of the terms in the new contracts they have to sign up to.
@Dave Doyle: Please link to the evidence that he is lying in this particular case Dave.
@MK76: Usual FG tripe where the link, OPEN your eyes FFS.
@Dave Doyle: Nail on the head there, should be investigated too
@MK76: FG’s record.
@Dave Doyle: Ah, right. So empty rhetoric rather than fact. Clears it up.
@David Huston: It’s a fair question David, but didn’t expect a reasonable answer.
FG’s record has been one of gross incompetence on this matter, but claiming they are lying, without any facts to back it up, is nothing more than empty rhetoric.
@MK76: No empty rhetoric and you know it. FG have made a virtue out of lying on this and many other issues.
@Dave Doyle: How would you know that? Why would they correct figures incorrect figures if they can’t back them up?
Unless you work for another acronym…
FFG lie lie lie….
Should any level of homelessness of children be acceptable?
Homelessness traumatises children, blights their lives and development, renders them insecure, impedes their education and leads to health risks, and anti social behaviours as well as being inhumane to them at a vulnerable age.
Should we not have a zero tolerance for child homelessness?
@Michael Lang: So true, plus Ireland is going to have a large population of older people in a couple of years, and if we are treating our young children like this now, how do you think they will repay us in the future when we need them
@Charliegrl80: this young generation will do exactly the same when they get older as the current older generation.. Vote for parties that neglect young people and families for an extra 5er a week in their pocket. Cycle will continue unless serious change is implemented either by people plucking up the courage to vote differently.. Or serious policy change and prioritising certain things.
@Michael Lang: zero tolerance for zero parental and personal responsibility
@shits ville: Ah so – the children should suffer because of their parents.
How compassionate of you.
@Michael Lang: So i take it you will be voting NO , then micheal ,
The biggest question our journal should be asking is, where is the shortfall of money gonna come from with UK leaving EU.
Considering we can’t even house our people, why is FFG promising more on top of the massive debts they have already foisted on us. Why is nobody asking?
Must have been getting the Gardai to do the counts….!?
The minister will hold off on publishing the numbers until after the next election .
The fools found a way to doctor the figures.
@Adrian: if the figures were true, they’d have released them early.
@Adrian: An FFG govt that erroneously overstated homelessness figures? Never.
They really do not care one iota and I hope it haunts them for generations.
If these figures are published quarterly it means historical monthly figures are redundant. Only after six months can we access how this emergency is being resolved. So six months will pass until figures can be accessed, instead of dealing with a political created situation all we are doing is massaging figures.
The numbers get lost when you put into stastics
There are lies, dam lies..and then statistics.
In an attempt to get homeless people into accommodation a couple of years ago, they prioritised people who were homeless for housing.
Word got out, and suddenly a lot more people on the housing list were declared homeless.
Lies, dam lies…and statistics.
@Maxwell Tsu-Araújo: You’re full of shit, over 10 000 people including 4000 children are intentionally homeless when the only option is a hotel room for a whole family by your logic
Lies, dam lies but you;re the liar
Arsehole
Better have a look at the employment stats, so.
Believe what Fine Gael tell you, they never lie.
“However, a categorisation error has been identified, which the government says has “overstated the total number of people who are in emergency accommodation in the State”.
Yes yes Eoghan….whatever you say. That’s a good lad. There will be extra pudding for you because you did such a good job of fudging figures. And of course we all believe you. Especially when this announcement comes hot on the heels of the latest govt cluster f**k. We believe everything the govt tells us. Now run along.
I guess this makes it so much better and it will be fine. This governments handling of this crisis is beyond disgusting and shameful to boot. Government ministers prouncing around the world in March, Leo more concerned at his presence at the Paddy’s day parade, it’s vomit enducing stuff to watch frankly
Phew panic ovet
I noticed while going for a walk, that there are loads of people living in tents along the river liffey amongst the trees. I wonder if they are counted in the numbers.
Why doesn’t use ALL 7 ETHOS Light Categories of homeless instead of just 3? ETHOS is European Typography of Homelessness and Housing Exclusion and many countries use more than 3Categories to determine Homelessness,why doesn’t Ireland?
I think it disgracful how all the newcomers to our country are left to live on the streets , everytime i am in the city centre you see them everywhere , people from africa ,the middle east begging , is that how we welcome our EU neighbours , why are we not looking after our eu neighbours as we should do. I think they should be put to the top of the housing list , you would think one of the 60 agences that represents them would help home them before everyone else, its a disgrace.
@Elvis King: “Wise men say, only fools rush in… “
This comment section seems to written by opposing political parties, I wonder if I’m the only one not on someones pay roll in here???
Damage control… last refuge of a Minister under pressure.
Lies, Lies & More Lies. Gormless Eoghan suppressing figures to keep them below 10,000 homeless. Next he’ll be telling us the monthly system for counting homelessness is flawed… Oh wait…… Do they really think people are that stupid….
have your say