Homeless figures across Ireland for the final month of 2019 have shown a record drop of 717 people.

There was 9,731 without a home at the end of 2019, a huge decrease from 10,488 the previous month.

Reflecting on 2019, the year-end figures reveal over 5,971 people exited from homelessness - a record number.

Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy has described the figures as a "move in the right direction".

He added: "A number of important developments are also evident from the work being done. Since July of last year, the number of families presenting to homeless services in Dublin has been falling each month. People are spending less time in emergency accommodation than before, with the majority spending less than 12 months before they are found a home. For every two families that present as homeless, one is found a home immediately and does not enter emergency accommodation at all. More than 1000 families exited emergency accommodation in to a home in 2019.

-- Advertisement --

"I want to thank everyone who was involved in these very important efforts over the course of last year and assure our partner NGOs and front-line staff that we will redouble our efforts this year and continue the important progress made."

Despite the encouraging numbers, the government has been urged to avoid complacency.

Fianna Fáil representative Darragh O'Brien commented: "The number of children living in emergency accommodation remains at an unacceptable level. Their record of missed targets and the continued plight of families in hotel rooms is a damning indictment of government policy. Achieving some 50,000 new social housing units by 2025 will address the long-term issue of supply of affordable units for households.

"Ending the rough sleeping of homeless people on our streets is a moral and social imperative. Unfortunately, this group of people has not been a priority under Fine Gael."

(CM/JG)