At least 104 people were sleeping rough on the streets of Dublin last month, according to an official count organised by the Homeless Agency.
The overall figure appears to represent a significant drop on previous counts, which recorded 185 people sleeping rough in 2005 and 275 in 1999.
However, officials from the Homeless Agency say it is difficult to compare figures due to changes in methodology. It says the 104 people identified as sleeping rough represent a "confirmed minimum".
The count involved 56 teams of experienced homeless service workers and community gardaí searching for rough sleepers within the two canals of the city during the night of November 20th. These included outer suburban areas, the docklands and the Phoenix Park among others.
Cathal Morgan, director of the Homeless Agency, said accurate numbers for rough sleepers were needed in order to be able to respond effectively with support services. "Rough sleeping is a dynamic situation subject to change as people move through the experience of homelessness. That is why we will repeat this count again in 2008 to ensure we stay abreast of changes and can measure the effectiveness of our service response."
Figures published last year suggested the total number of homeless people, including those staying in emergency accommodation, was about 2,000.
Officials aim to reduce this figure through the development of transitional housing and support services for people who move out of homelessness.
The recommendations of independent evaluations of these services are to be published today, as well as the Homeless Agency's agreed response. Its response includes a priority "to-do" list that includes establishing quality standards for homeless services; investing to build and finance appropriate accommodation; supporting programmes and developing homeless services.
Minister of State with responsibility for Housing, Batt O'Keeffe, who is due to launch the evaluations today, said the independent studies helped to identify ways to strengthen the quality of services and move people into more sustainable and long-term accommodation. "The Homeless Agency Partnership is working towards ensuring that emergency accommodation and transitional housing and support services become real places of change for people so that they can begin to undertake their journey out of homelessness and into independent living and participation in society," Mr O'Keeffe said.
Mr Morgan said: "These are critically important services that will allow a person to move out of a crisis situation such as rough sleeping and through a transitional period of settlement and into long-term accommodation."