Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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695. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will report on issues identified in the reporting of homelessness statistics by local authorities, by local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50047/17]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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696. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if statistical analysis has been conducted on homelessness figures reported by local authorities; if this analysis has been used to identify potential issues with reporting; if these issues have been identified; if these issues have been investigated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50048/17]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 695 and 696 together.

Housing authorities submit reports to my Department on a monthly basis regarding the number of individuals utilising emergency accommodation arrangements that are funded by housing authorities; these official homeless reports are published on my Department's website and can be accessed using the following link: www.housing.gov.ie/housing/homelessness/other/homelessness-data.

The data included in these reports is produced by housing authorities using the Pathway Accommodation & Support System (PASS).  PASS is used in all homeless accommodation services that are funded by housing authorities.  PASS was developed, and is maintained, by Dublin City Council as an integrated data information system and is provided as a national shared service.  PASS allows housing authorities to produce good quality, timely data in relation to homelessness and, in quantifying its ongoing dynamics, supports the development and implementation of appropriate policy.  The National PASS Office, within Dublin City Council, assists housing authorities on an ongoing basis with any technical issues they may have in relation to the operation and reporting of PASS.

If the Deputy provides more specific information in relation to the issues referred to, I will have the matters involved considered.