I raise the issue of people sleeping rough who are being turned away from emergency shelters. I raised this issue with the Taoiseach before and despite his assurances people continue to be refused access to emergency accommodation even though beds lie empty. The circular issued by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, in December regarding this was weak and ineffective and fell far short of what was needed. In the RTÉ Prime Time Investigates programme on homelessness broadcast on Monday night, we saw the real impact of this cruel and inhumane practice on people sleeping rough. People continue to be refused access to emergency beds since that programme aired. Will the Taoiseach instruct local authorities and the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive, DRHE, to stop this cruel and inhumane practice of turning people sleeping rough away from emergency beds?

I call Deputy Murnane O'Connor on the same issue.

In the programme for Government, the word "housing" is mentioned 68 times, "home" 35 times and "homes" 29 times. Two of the five-year housing objectives are to tackle homelessness and to ensure that local authorities are central to delivering on the housing for all mission. The Prime Time Investigates programme on Monday night reported that a 59-year-old homeless Carlowman in Dublin was told he could not access an emergency bed because he was not a local. We heard on that programme the phone call which was made. That man was told that he was registered in Carlow and so he should interact there. As he was in Dublin, he was told in that phone call that there was nothing that could be done for him. The records showed that 75 hostel beds were empty in Dublin that night, yet that man was refused a bed because he was not a local.

I have come across this issue of people not getting beds because they are not locals several times. It is unacceptable. I know the family of the man concerned and they are lovely. This man deserved a bed. It is unfair that he was not allowed a bed that night. This is an issue we need to address. I also came across this issue in respect of a domestic violence case, where a person could not get accommodation and was told because they were from a neighbouring county to go back to their own local authority.

I think the Deputies for raising this very important issue. Directions have issued and the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage has been clear that people should not be turned away from emergency accommodation on the grounds of locality or where they are from. I watched that programme. It is difficult enough for people who find themselves homeless where there is capacity and that emergency accommodation should be made available. The Minister has issued a circular, he has been clear in that, and he will continue to instruct and make it clear that people should not be refused accommodation in such circumstances. That is our position.