Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The criteria are included in the legislation. The Housing Act 1998 states: "A person shall be regarded by a housing authority as being homeless for the purposes of this Act if (a) there is no accommodation available which, in the opinion of the authority, he, together with any other person who normally resides with him or who might reasonably be expected to reside with him, can reasonably occupy or remain in occupation of, or (b) he is living in a hospital, county home, night shelter or other such institution, and is so living because he has no accommodation of the kind referred to in paragraph (a)". That is legalistic language for making a judgment call on whether an individual or a number of people have a place where they can reside safely. I will speak to the local authorities about this issue. If the Deputy thinks there is a serious need to review the criteria, we will look at them, but we need to make sure the limited spaces we have available in emergency accommodation are prioritised for those most in need of them. We need to make sure we minimise mistakes in not providing emergency accommodation for those who absolutely need it.

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