The Government is 'finalising options' around the eviction ban, with no decision made yet.

That is according to Justice Minister Simon Harris, who was speaking as the ban is due to start to be wound up from the end of March.

People Before Profit has said ending it would be 'inhumane and cruel'.

Minister Harris told The Hard Shoulder a final decision is to be made in the next few weeks.

"The Government has made no decision on the eviction moratorium," he said.

"I know that my colleague, the Minister for Housing Darragh O'Brien, is currently finalising options with the Attorney-General's Office.

"What I can say is we will make a decision in early March, and I know that's important.

"It's important for people who want a certainty is in terms of policy decision."

Decision 'in the next week or two'

Minister Harris said several issues need to be looked at.

"Obviously making sure people who are at-risk of homelessness, that we can try and protect them.

"Also though making sure that anything [the] Government does is lawful, constitutional."

He said the Government is conscious not to do anything "that further actually hampers supply in terms of rental properties."

"Darragh O'Brien is working intensively on this with the Attorney-General, and we'll make a decision in early March... within the next week or two," he added.

New figures show a record 11,754 people were registered as homeless last month.

Listen back to the full interview below: