Ahern urged to quit in row over homelessness figures

LABOUR environment spokesperson Eamon Gilmore yesterday called for the resignation of Housing Minister Noel Ahern after he openly disputed his department’s own figures on homelessness.

Responding to a Dáil question from Fine Gael's Bernard Allen on the number of local authority houses let to those in emergency accommodation, Mr Ahern said the required data was not centrally available before disputing the homelessness figures produced by his own department.

When asked whether he believed his department's figures which indicate there are 5,500 homeless people, Mr Ahern replied: "no, I do not. There is huge doubt in that area," he said.