Numbers of homeless people

In 2013, spokespersons of the Irish government stated that they would have "eradicated homelessness" in Ireland by 2016.^[15] However, this goal was not achieved. Rather, by 2017, the issue and prevalence of homelessness had increased,^[16] with the number of homeless people in Ireland rising by 25% between September 2016 and September 2017.^[17] Figures published during 2016 and early 2017 indicated that there were then 4,377 people living in emergency accommodation, the highest figure seen in Ireland to that date.^[18][19] By mid-2019 this had increased further, with figures indicating that more than 10,000 people were homeless in Ireland, with approximately one-third of these being children.^[20][21] As of February 2021, there were reportedly 8,313 homeless people in Ireland (of which 5,987 were adults and 2,326 children).^[22] In 2021, 115 homeless people died in Dublin.^[23]

Subcategories

A "Homelessness Report" by the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government in November 2016 indicated that while there were hundreds of homeless families and individuals in other regions, the issue was most prevalent in the Dublin area.^[24] As of February 2021, approximately 70% of homeless people were in Dublin.^[22]

Youth homelessness is often defined as a separate issue to homelessness. Though the issue was not recognized by government until the late 1980s, since the mid-1960s youth homelessness was gradually articulated as a form of homelessness different from that experienced by adults.^[25] More than 5,500 children live in emergency accommodation as of April 2026^[update].^[26]

The housing ministry's figures do not include the "hidden homeless" such as people who are couch surfing or sleeping in their cars.^[27] While studies are experimental and limited, 1,249 people were identified under certain categories of hidden homelessness.^[28]