As called official homeless figures in Ireland, currently around 10,000, have been regularly criticised as not being accurate. According to a national report which recovers data fed from each locality, the figure of 10,000 only includes those living in state funded emergency accomodation which usually consists of a hotel room with no cooking or washing up facilities, and is not available to everyone. Some have been told there are no homeless services in their area and no council houses. There have been no offers of social housing. It is believed to be government policy that dictates the situation.
One consequence of the lack of suitable housing besides rough sleepers, those living in tents and those availing of temporary hostel accomodation are that those young Irish who can, go abroad. The housing situation and employment are said to be the main factors of migration. Newspaper reports have discussed the demographics of newly qualified Irish nurses who reportedly have to go abroad to work. Meanwhile, mainly British nursing staff are getting employment and relocating. Thought to be a consequence of government policy, which leads to the question; Is Ireland still a republic?