The number of people sleeping rough in Dublin has changed little despite Government efforts to tackle the problem, according to a survey conducted by homeless organisations.
The survey carried out by a number of groups dealing with homelessness including Focus Ireland and the Simon Community found there are 237 people sleeping rough in Dublin city centre.
The last official count of homeless people in the greater Dublin area in 2002 revealed that 312 people were sleeping rough.
The current survey only counted people sleeping rough in the city centre and does not include peoplesleeping rough in the suburbs.
Focus Ireland said this figure is unlikely to have fallen given Dublin City Council's recent policy of moving homeless people out of the city centre.
Commenting on the results of the survey Mr Declan Jones, chief executive of Focus Ireland said: "These figures show the number of people sleeping rough in Dublin has remained more or less static in recent years despite a Government strategy to specifically target this problem."
A total of 5,581 people are classified as homeless in Ireland, with 2,900 adults and 1,140 children homeless in Dublin. The vast majority live in emergency hostels and B&B accommodation on a night-by-night basis.
Mr Greg Maxwell, director of Simon in Dublin said rough sleeping will never be solved unless the Government makes a commitment to providing permanent, appropriate housing for people who are homeless, particularly single homeless people.
Mr Jones said that if people stuck living in emergency accommodation were moved into permanent housing it would free resources which could then be used to target the most marginalised people who are sleeping rough on a long term basis who often have additional problems.
"These people require targeted support services and not just a bed for the night if they are to have any chance of staying off the streets," Mr Jones said.