The homeless crisis in Dublin is proving to be lucrative for hotel and other accommodation providers.

The Irish arm of no-frills hotel chain, Travelodge last year plunged into the red to record pre-tax losses of almost €500,000.

A couple, both of whom claimed to have developed a mental adjustment disorder after their 12-year-old daughter’s arm was pricked by a pin in a hotel bed, have been awarded €18,000 damages in the Circuit Civil Court.