Pat Casey (Wicklow, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I take it from what the Minister said that 484, comprising adults and children, were not included on the list because they were housed in private accommodation. I believe that is what he said. I believe 247 and 237 were the figures he gave. Regardless of that, he said in an interview on "Morning Ireland" last week that people who were considered homeless were being accommodated in local authority houses. He gave an understanding that those people were in homes and will remain in those homes until they receive their long-term accommodation. Can he confirm that people who are being provided with local authority accommodation in local authority housing can remain in those houses up until long-term accommodation can be provided for them?

The Minister mentioned hotels. I have a concern about that because the previous Minister gave a commitment that there would be nobody living in hotel accommodation by the end of June last year. Month by month since then, we are seeing increases in hotel accommodation being used for homeless people. Realistically, we are just not getting on top of the homeless figures.

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