Sinn Féin TD for Dublin Mid West has accused the Minister for Housing of "running scared of the Housing Committee", after it was revealed he had declined a committee invite to discuss the homeless figures controversy.

Mr Eoin Ó Broin said: "Clearly he is running scared of the Housing Committee and any detailed scrutiny of his interference in the March homeless report for fear that we will expose his actions as clear political manipulation of the homeless figures to protect his political reputation."

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Minister Eoghan Murphy was invited to attend the session alongside Local authorities, the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive and housing policy experts last week.

This followed the controversy surrounding the March homeless figures.

"At last weeks Housing Committee meeting there was some concern at the decision by Minister Murphy to remove 600 adults and children from the March homeless report," said Mr Ó Broin. "Despite making this significant intervention, the Minister has not published any information on who has been removed or why.

"It is now clear from information secured by opposition TDs and journalists from Meath, Louth, Dublin City, Kildare and Wexford that the vast majority of those removed from the homeless figures were and still are homeless."

(CM)