Half of Dublin homeless hostels unfit for purpose

More than half of all hostels used as emergency shelters for homeless people in Dublin are not fit for purpose, according to the Homeless Agency.

In a report out today, the agency says some of these hotels do not even meet current fire standards.

However, it says efforts are being made to improve the quality of shelters.

Elsewhere, the agency says it counted 104 people sleeping on the capital's streets on November 20th this year, compared to 185 two years ago and 275 in 1999.

It says this is a minimum number and only represents part of the picture.