Almost 4000 people living in Tusla funded domestic violence shelter accommodation are not included in the monthly homeless reports, according to Sinn Féin housing spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin.

He also revealed that 100 people living in emergency shelters like Morning Star and Regina Coeli are also not included in the reports.

Mr Ó Broin has criticised Minister Murphy for attempting to "alter the definition of homelessness in order to bring the figures down".

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He said: "People sleeping in emergency accommodation are homeless. They have no lease and no tenancy agreement with either a private landlord or the local authority.

"The Minister's claim that people who have been left languishing in emergency accommodation for up to two years should no longer be deemed homeless is astounding.

"The vast majority of adults and children removed from the March homeless report are homeless and should be returned to the figures."

Mr Ó Broin added: "The Minister is attempting to lower the bar. Having an accurate picture of the number of adults and children in emergency accommodation is important as it is the only way to know if the problem is getting better or worse."

(CM)