Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Boyd Barrett knows as well as do I that there are some unfortunate cases in which there are psychiatric challenges or problems or in which there may be psychological difficulties. The rough sleepers count, which takes place regularly, confirms that a minimum of 139 persons were sleeping rough across the Dublin region on a given night. These are the official figures from November 2013. This compared with a count from April 2013 of 94 people who were sleeping rough on the night in question. In 2013, €23 million was spent on emergency accommodation in Dublin alone, with 1,500 beds provided nightly to homeless people in Dublin. However, the increasing number of rough sleepers in Dublin reflects the gravity of the challenge facing everyone in this Chamber. This is the reason the Minister of State, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, has taken a particular interest in this issue now. The Government has put together a small group of effective people who know what they are talking about. I personally told the Minister of State that any assistance that can be given from the Office of the Taoiseach to deal with this effectively will be given. The Minister of State at the Department of Health, who is present, the Minister of State with responsibility for housing and Dublin City Council all are involved in this regard. Let us have an opportunity to discuss this in greater detail at some time in the future.

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