A study by the Government body which funds homeless organisations in Dublin has found that people from EU accession countries denied welfare benefits are regularly seeking help from homeless agencies.
The draft report prepared by the Homeless Agency into the effects of the habitual residency condition says all service providers contacted have noticed an increase in demand for services by people coming from the accession countries.
The report's findings, details of which have been seen by The Irish Times, were given to Minister for Social Affairs Séamus Brennan yesterday.
He has asked officials to review the operation of the habitual residency condition.
A two-year habitual residency condition was introduced for social welfare assistance last year, in response to Government fears that the accession of 10 new members to the EU could lead to a significant number of citizens coming here to draw welfare payments.
The implementation of the condition has proved controversial and the European Commission has served a "notion of infringement" on the Government over the extent to which benefits are being denied to EU citizens.
Initial research by the Homeless Agency indicates that many people from accession countries coming to Ireland have an expectation that they will access the job market right away, and have not planned for any delay in taking up employment.
The majority of those coming to Ireland seeking work and who are known to homeless services are Polish, single males or males with families at home, the report says. The main services accessed are food centres, while a number of emergency accommodation s have provided beds. It says this is occurring on a limited basis.