The Government has said it is disappointed that the homeless figure has exceeded the symbolic number of 10,000. I can use much stronger language than that. It is at least a national scandal. Wicklow is no different from any other county in the State. From December to February, the number of those in emergency accommodation increased by 25%. In December in Wicklow, 12 beds were opened in the cold weather initiative, which essentially is emergency accommodation. There is actually a waiting list for people to get into that accommodation. This Sunday, the premises will close because the funding expires. The funding was only in place until the end of March. I listened to the Minister, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, say funding is not an issue when it comes to addressing homelessness, but clearly it is. These people are going to be evicted by the Government back onto the streets because there is no alternative accommodation for them. Will the Tánaiste give me categorical assurances today that those 12 individuals and the others who cannot get in there will not end up on the streets-----

Time is up, Deputy, please.

-----and that the funding will be put in place to ensure that the premises can continue to keep its doors open to meet the needs of homeless people in County Wicklow? I want an assurance here today from the Tánaiste and the Minister of State, Deputy English, that the doors will not close come Sunday evening-----

Please, Deputy.

-----and that they will not be evicted by this Government back onto the street.

It is important to be very clear on these situations. In respect of the provision of additional emergency accommodation, if the local authority requests funding, it is available, absolutely. It is its choice locally how it wants to spend that money or what beds it wants to open. If it judges that it needs that and it requests money from our Department, the money will be there.