Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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122. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if his Department has undertaken a study to determine the impact the lifting of the eviction ban has had on homelessness numbers. [22657/23]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The Residential Tenancies (Deferment of Termination Dates of Certain Tenancies) Act 2022 was a time limited enactment which provided for a stay on eviction notices up to 31 March 2023, with deferred tenancy terminations taking effect over a staggered period from 1 April to 18 June.

No specific study has been undertaken to determine the impact of the ending of the winter emergency period on homelessness numbers. However, my Department currently gathers and publishes data on a monthly basis on the number of homeless persons accommodated in emergency accommodation funded and overseen by housing authorities. These reports are based on data provided by housing authorities, produced through the Pathway Accommodation & Support System (PASS). The monthly homelessness report includes details of individuals, families and the dependants of these families who accessed emergency accommodation during the relevant count week of the month in question. The most recently published data is in respect of March 2023. The reports are collated on a regional basis and are available on my Department's website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/80ea8-homelessness-data/ and are also published to the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform's open data portal data.gov.ie/ .

The Department carefully monitors the data contained in the reports to identify trends and drivers of homelessness and to allow for informed policies and measures to address.

My Department also publishes quarterly progress reports which are based on quarterly performance reports submitted by the nine regional lead authorities responsible for the administration of homeless services at local level. The quarterly performance reports include details of the numbers of individuals prevented from entering emergency accommodation and exiting emergency accommodation into tenancies and the duration of stay in emergency accommodation. The quarterly progress report summarises the data submitted to the Department. The most recent published data is in respect of Q1 2023 and the report is available on my Department’s website at the following link: .

Furthermore, the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) publishes data on the number of Notices of Termination (NoTs) received on a quarterly basis and includes the details of the reason for termination. The most recent data, for Q3 – Q4 2022, was published in April 2023. This data is available on the RTB website at the following link: .

Under Housing for All, the Government is committed to increasing supply and protecting renters while trying to keep small landlords in the system. In this regard my Department has commenced a review of the Private Rental Sector which will inform Government on the measures which need to be taken to ensure a well-functioning private rental sector for all stakeholders.

My Department will continue to work with local authorities to ensure sufficient funding is made available for all required homeless services, including the provision of emergency accommodation, to support those at risk of or experiencing homelessness.