The Government has introduced a 20-point Action Plan to tackle homelessness throughout Ireland.

Labour TD Sean Kenny said the plan will make a difference.

Mr Kenny said: "This Action Plan commits €20 million and more if needs be to provide 260 beds immediately, with the assistance of the Civil Defence and the Department of Defence, to give people who are sleeping rough on the streets of Dublin, as well as a new nightly café to give people who do not wish to sleep in one of these beds a place to go, and as well as that, transport to bring people to emergency accomodation where they will have a bed for the night.

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"Minister Kelly has, for the next six months, from the first of December, directed the four Dublin housing authorities to allocate half of all housing allocations to households that are dealing with homelessness and vulnerable groups who also deal with the risk of homelessness. This should provide homes for about 500 people."

"The long term ambition is that by the end of 2016 we will end the scourge of involuntary long term homelessness, in accordance with the Government’s Implementation Plan in Response to Homelessness."

(CD/IT)