The number of referrals to the country’s only night cafe for homeless people soared to 24,556 last year.

The country’s only homeless cafe had 18,375 referrals in its first year of operation and almost 2,000 unique users — many of whom may have otherwise slept rough.

The country’s only night cafe for homeless people accommodated 812 different people in its first two months alone — illustrating the scale of the homeless crisis.

The country’s only homeless cafe, operated by Merchant’s Quay Ireland, has become a vital service for hundreds of clients after just three months in operation, with up to 50 people a night sleeping there. Noel Baker spent a night on its floors