Frances Fitzgerald’s response to homeless figures criticised

Tánaiste Frances Fitzgerald has described as “a slight increase” a rise of more than a third in the number of homeless people in Dublin.

The figures published yesterday show a 35% rise year on year, while the number of children in emergency accommodation has gone from just over 900 to more than 2,100 in the past year.

The issue was raised by Fianna Fáil yesterday in the Dáil, but Ms Fitzgerald appeared to play down the rising numbers of homeless.