Data on homelessness and housing exclusion 2026: Ireland

Summary of key data and information

	Summary of key data and information
Official statistical definition of homelessness (Table 1)	In the 1988 Housing Act, a person is considered homeless if: (a) there is no accommodation available which, in the opinion of the authority, he, together with any other person who normally resides with him or who might reasonably be expected to reside with him, can reasonably occupy or remain in occupation of, or (b) he is living in a hospital, county home, night shelter or other such institution, and is so living because he has no accommodation of the kind referred to in paragraph (a), and he is, in the opinion of the authority, unable to provide accommodation from his own resources.
Latest national estimates of homelessness (Table 2, Table 3)	16 734 individuals, representing 0.31% of the total population (2025)
	27% are women, 42% are men
	Point-in-time count, based on the Pathway Accommodation Support System (PASS)
	ETHOS Light groups included	Included: ETHOS Light 2: Emergency accommodation (e.g. shelters) ETHOS Light 3: Accommodation for the homeless (e.g. hostels and women’s refuges) Not included: ETHOS Light 1: Living on the streets, in public spaces ETHOS Light 4: People in institutions ETHOS Light 5: People in non-conventional dwellings (e.g. caravans, cars or tents) ETHOS Light 6: Living temporarily with others in conventional housing (e.g. sofa-surfing)
	Notes: Each ETHOS Light group includes one or more sub-categories of living situations. ETHOS Light groups are considered as “included” in the data collection approach if at least one of the sub-categories is counted.
Legal framework to collect data on homelessness (Table 4)	The 1988 Housing Act requires that local authorities carry out periodic assessments of the number of people who are homeless in their administrative area, as part of their housing needs assessment.
Homelessness Strategy (Table 5)	National Homelessness Strategy: Delivering Homes, Building Communities and Youth Homelessness Strategy. Regional and/or local homelessness strategies exist
Approaches to collect data on homelessness (Table 6)	Pathway Accommodation and Support System (PASS): online shared case-management system used by every homeless service provider and all local authorities (Table 6.1). Census of population: Census Field officers conduct interviews and questionnaires with people experiencing homelessness in pre-selected establishments and locations (Table 6.2).

Table 1. Official statistical definition of homelessness

Statistical definition

Homelessness

According to the Housing Act (1988): A person shall be regarded by a housing authority as being homeless for the purposes of this Act if: (a) there is no accommodation available which, in the opinion of the authority, he, together with any other person who normally resides with him or who might reasonably be expected to reside with him, can reasonably occupy or remain in occupation of, or (b) he is living in a hospital, county home, night shelter or other such institution, and is so living because he has no accommodation of the kind referred to in paragraph (a), and he is, in the opinion of the authority, unable to provide accommodation from his own resources.

Table 2. Data on people experiencing homelessness: Headline estimate, by living situation

Presented according to ETHOS Light Typology

Year	Headline estimate of homelessness (Individuals)	% of total population	ETHOS Light 1 People living rough	ETHOS Light 2 People in emergency accommodation	ETHOS Light 3 People in accommodation for the homeless	ETHOS Light 4 People living in institutions	ETHOS Light 5 People living in unconventional dwellings	ETHOS Light 6 People staying with family/friends
2018	6 194	0.13%	NA	6 194	Included in ETHOS 2	Not included	Not included	Not included
2023	13 179	0.26%	Not included	13 179	Included in ETHOS 2	Not included	Not included	Not included
2025	16 734	0.31%	Not included	16 734	Included in ETHOS 2	Not included	Not included	Not included
Metadata: Type of count: Point-in-time Data are comparable across years: Yes Included in headline estimate: Children: Yes Temporary accommodation for: Asylum seekers: No Refugees: No Victims/survivors of domestic violence: No

Note: For 2025, data refers to the number of individuals staying in state-funded accommodation during the count week of December-22-28.

Source: OECD Questionnaire on Affordable and Social Housing (QuASH); Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (2023/2025); Pathway Accommodation and Support System (PASS).

Table 3. Data on people experiencing homelessness: Headline estimate, by sub-group and living situation

Presented according to ETHOS Light Typology, 2025

	Single adults	Men	Women	Youth (aged 18‑24)	Older people (aged 65 and over)	Families with children (# of households)
Headline estimate of homelessness	7 311	6 963	4 583	2 017	270	2 478
As percentage of total population experiencing homelessness	43.68%	41.61%	27.39%	12.05%	1.61%	NA
ETHOS Light 1: People living rough	Not included	Not included	Not included	Not included	Not included	Not included
ETHOS Light 2: People in emergency accommodation	16 734	6 693	4 583	2 017	270	2 478
ETHOS Light 3: People in accommodation for the homeless	Included in ETHOS 2	Included in ETHOS 2	Included in ETHOS 2	Included in ETHOS 2	Included in ETHOS 2	Included in ETHOS 2
ETHOS Light 4: People living in institutions	Not included	Not included	Not included	Not included	Not included	Not included
ETHOS Light 5: People living in unconventional dwellings	Not included	Not included	Not included	Not included	Not included	Not included
ETHOS Light 6: People staying with family/friends	Not included	Not included	Not included	Not included	Not included	Not included
Metadata: Type of count: Point-in-time Included in headline estimate: Children: Yes Temporary accommodation for: Asylum seekers: No Refugees: No Victims/survivors of domestic violence: No

Note: The Sub-groups are not mutually exclusive. For 2025, data refers to the number of individuals staying in state-funded accommodation during the count week of December-22-28. Gender breakdown only considers adults.

Source: OECD Questionnaire on Affordable and Social Housing (QuASH); Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (2025); Pathway Accommodation and Support System (PASS).

Table 4. Legal framework to collect data on homelessness

	Legal framework
Law that governs data collection on homelessness	The Housing Act, 1988 Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009
Legal obligations	Section 9 of the Housing Act 1988 requires that local authorities carry out periodic assessments of the number of people who are homeless in their administrative area, as part of their housing needs assessment. The Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 outlines a statutory obligation to have an action plan in place and the formation of a Homelessness Consultative Forum and a Statutory Management Group.

Table 5. Homelessness strategy

	Homelessness strategies in place
National Homelessness Strategy	National Homelessness Strategy: Delivering Homes, Building Communities and Youth Homelessness Strategy
Regional and/or local homelessness strategies exist	Yes.

Table 6. Approaches to collect data on homelessness

6.1. Pathway Accommodation and Support System (PASS)
Description The Pathway Accommodation and Support System (PASS) is an online shared system used by every homelessness service provider and all local authorities in Ireland. The system provides real-time information in terms of homelessness presentation and bed occupancy across the Dublin region. The lead local authorities for homelessness in each region provide monthly reports on homelessness which identify the number of people using State-funded emergency accommodation on a regional and county basis. These reports are collated into a national report on homelessness by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Information from PASS is used to publish the Quarterly Progress Report and the Monthly Homelessness Report.
Type of count generated Point-in-time Flow (period) Note: Both PIT and flow data is collected.	Methods Information management system on individuals experiencing homelessness.
Lead authority(ies) Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage	Source(s) of information Data on people experiencing homelessness is submitted directly from local authorities to the department of housing, local government, and heritage through the PASS system.
Scope National level	Depth of data Key demographic characteristics
Frequency Ongoing; Data published monthly or quarterly.
ETHOS Light groups included: ETHOS Light 2: Emergency accommodation (e.g. shelters) ETHOS Light 3: Accommodation for the homeless (e.g. hostels and women’s refuges) Note: Each ETHOS Light group includes one or more sub-categories of living situations. ETHOS Light groups are considered as “included” in the data collection approach if at least one of the sub-categories is counted.
Notes and sources www.gov.ie/en/collection/80ea8-homelessness-data/
6.2. Census of Population
Description All people living in Ireland must complete the Census. To reach people experiencing homelessness, Census Field officers conduct interviews and questionnaires with people experiencing homelessness in pre-selected establishments and locations. The method used to identify a person as homeless is agreed upon in advance at a meeting of the Census Homeless Methodology Liaison Group, which includes major stakeholders involved in providing services to people experiencing homelessness. The Pathway Accommodation and Support System (PASS) is also used to help identify establishments that provide support to people experiencing homelessness. In 2016, a count of rough sleepers took place on the night of the Census. This was organised by local authorities, in conjunction with the central statistics office and supported by the Dublin Region Homeless Executive.
Type of count generated Point-in-time	Methods Census of the general population Street Count
Lead authority(ies) Central Statistics Office (CSO)	Source(s) of information General Population
Scope National level	Depth of data Key demographic characteristics
Frequency Every five years
ETHOS Light groups included: ETHOS Light 1: Living on the streets, in public spaces ETHOS Light 2: Emergency accommodation (e.g. shelters) ETHOS Light 3: Accommodation for the homeless (e.g. hostels and women’s refuges) Note: Each ETHOS Light group includes one or more sub-categories of living situations. ETHOS Light groups are considered as “included” in the data collection approach if at least one of the sub-categories is counted.
Notes and sources https://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/ep/p-cpp6/censusofpopulation2022profile6-homelessness/homelesspeopleinireland/

Please refer to the OECD Affordable Housing Database, indicator HC3.1.Population experiencing homelessness, https://www.oecd.org/content/oecd/en/data/datasets/oecd-affordable-housing-database.html.

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