Homeless on Dublin city streets hits record high

A RECORD number of people have been found sleeping rough in Dublin.

The winter headcount recorded 184 people in parks, streets, doorways and shopfronts on November 7.

The unprecedented numbers were released as the government announced it would open another 200 emergency beds across the city by December 18.

The Republic’s housing minister Eoghan Murphy said: “No person should have to sleep on our streets or be without shelter at any time of the year.”

The Dublin Regional Homeless Executive (DRHE) said the previous record number for rough sleepers was 168 in the winter of 2014 and the new level is up from 161 in the spring and 142 last winter.

Mr Murphy, who opened a new homeless facility run by the Peter McVerry Trust on the Cabra Road in the capital, said there should be enough beds across the city this winter to give everyone shelter who needs and wants it.

“Given the extreme cold weather expected over the coming days, arrangements are in place since last night with our partners like Peter McVerry Trust and Focus Ireland to ensure that additional temporary shelter can be brought into use across a range of existing services and facilities for singles and couples on a temporary basis,” he said.

A further 25 temporary beds are in place in Cork, there are 34 in Galway and another 10 in Limerick.

The rough sleeper count involves 50 teams being deployed across set geographic areas.