Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I think 25 people work in the economic division of the Taoiseach's Department. It is also responsible for statistics and supporting the Cabinet and Cabinet committees in respect of housing. Is the Taoiseach happy to stand over his claim that he made at the Fine Gael Ard-Fheis last year that the Government had a plan and the plan was working in respect of housing? On housing statistics, I asked the Taoiseach last week to give an assurance that 100% comparability would be maintained between current and previous homelessness statistics. I also asked that he would not allow a situation where future statistics excluded groups that were previously included. It is fine if he wants to publish a new set of statistics. Denying people the ability to compare like with like is, however, not okay. This concern is obvious because the deterioration in the situation in the past two years is shocking.

Overall homelessness is up 85%, with child homelessness increasing by an unprecedented 125%. In health, the past seven years have been spent meddling with figures in an attempt to cover up lengthening waiting lists and underestimates of costs. The same behaviour cannot be tolerated when it comes to homelessness. As the Department of the Taoiseach is in charge of official statistics, will the Taoiseach assure Members that full comparability in housing and homelessness statistics will be maintained?

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