Minister denies trying to ‘massage’ figures

THE Minister for Housing insists there will be ‘no muddying of the waters’ in a plan to change access to emergency homeless accommodation.

The Irish Daily Mail revealed at the weekend that Darragh O’Brien is planning to restrict eligibility for emergency accommodation and limit access only to those who have a strong link with the country and pass a habitual residence condition (HRC). The move would potentially remove thousands of people from the overall homeless figures, but the State would still have to provide them with a bed.

Mr O’Brien told the Mail last night he ‘rejected outright’ Opposition claims that he was trying to ‘massage’ the homelessness figures and said the move it about changes in ‘categorisation’. ‘There’s no fear whatsoever of any massaging of figures. What I’m focused on is actually helping those who are in emergency accommodation actually get out of that emergency accommodation,’ he said.

In October, Mr O’Brien sent proposals to the National Homeless Action Committee (NHAC) seeking observations on proposed amendments to the Housing Act 1988, which governs access to homeless services.

The correspondence, obtained by the Mail, proposed an amendment to ‘introduce eligibility criteria, in line with amendments to the social housing legislation, requiring lawful and habitual residency’ as conditions for access to emergency accommodation. It was met with strong opposition from homelessness charities, such as the Simon Community.

Mr O’Brien said he wasn’t ignoring the warnings and that the feedback is taken on board.