Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will come to the Deputy's question. The last point that he made is completely unacceptable in light of the fact that I sought the two reports, I have published them and I am here to discuss them, never mind the fact that he wanted us to meet as a committee before the reports were published and accused of me of not making myself available to meet the committee. I was quite clear that we should come in and debate the reports that were being prepared for us.

In terms of the March figures, and I have said this before, we are focusing on the wrong issue and these reports tell us why. The problem that we face is not just about what is the number, what is the list or its length. We are talking about people with very complex needs who are, potentially, going to be trapped in emergency accommodation unless we segregate people and understand their pathway to sustainable accommodation, be it in terms of figuring out their rights or their long-term support needs.

Deputy Ó Broin has called this matter an alleged miscategorisation but he accepted that there had been a miscategorisation when we addressed this matter in the Dáil.

In terms of the two reports, the inter-agency report was never going to cover this matter. My Department and the local authorities are still doing a piece of work because it is a detailed piece of work and I want it to be accurate. A survey is being conducted, by each of the local authorities, with the aim of giving us true information on the different categories, the use of section 10 and answers to all of our questions. I had hoped that the work would be completed in time for the publication of this report.

In terms of the two reports, the inter-agency was never going to cover this matter. My Department is conducting a detailed piece of work, which I want to be accurate, along with the local authorities. A survey is being conducted and I have asked each of the local authorities to provide us with true information about the different categories, the use of section 10 and answers to all of our questions. I hoped the work would be completed in time for the publication of this report.