Nearly 6,000 people living in emergency accommodation

Homeless support agencies have expressed alarm at figures which show the number of people now living in emergency accommodation at an all-time high at 5,715 people.

Picture above shows 'Crash Mats' for homeless people availing of Ireland's first homeless night cafe which is operated by Merchants Quay Ireland. The servce  had 18,375 referrals in its first year of operation.  

The latest figures have prompted a warning that the crisis in Dublin is now being replicated in other parts of the country.