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

The definition that we currently work off is from the 1988 Act. There are two criteria there. It puts it to the local authority to interpret those criteria and make a decision itself. An interesting thing from a bureaucratic point of view is that someone has to be declared as homeless before he or she can get supports that would prevent him or her from becoming homeless. That person might not be homeless at all. One has to assess people and declare them as homeless before one can give them homeless supports. They may never go into emergency accommodation or ever not have a roof over their heads. We have to look at some of these issues again to see if there is terminology or a bureaucratic mechanism that is failing us with regard to being able to more quickly help people and get a proper understanding. Although I have not had a chance to talk to the DRHE about the report yet, it might also be talking about the people who have long-term health and support needs who will never be able to sustain an independent tenancy who are currently, for whatever reason, such as section 10 funding, declared as homeless. Is that the right thing to do? It might also be a request for further definition under the Acts. I will discuss this with the DRHE and at the housing summit. Our first priority is to support people. Some of these issues with definitions and such are not at the top of the agenda but need to be addressed in time.