A young Dublin couple were placed in emergency accommodation where the entrance was blocked with rubbish, mattresses covered in urine and mould growing on windows, the Dá

il was told.

Socialist Party TD Paul Murphy said the conditions were horrific. "In the next place there was vomit and food on the floor and unwashed mattresses," he added.

He said the couple, Alan Murphy and Kelly Gilsenan, were before the High Court because they were homeless.

“Alan suffers from serious epilepsy . . . he was in a coma in Tallaght hospital and had to quit his job. Kelly is now his full-time carer,” he added.

He said their previous landlord had sold their house and the couple had been forced to move out. They could not find a landlord who would accept rent supplement or a rent they could afford.

Like others they were forced to sleep in a tent and, to bring the problem to South Dublin County Council’s door, they slept in its offices overnight a few weeks ago. The council had gone to the High Court to seek an injunction to force them out of the offices, he added.

“They are not alone,” said Mr Murphy. “There are 3,000 in a similar situation, 1,000 of whom are children.”

Tánaiste Joan Burton said Mr Murphy should ask the couple to get in touch with the community welfare service in the area. “That has been the consistent advice to people in housing difficulties,” she added.

Ms Burton said well over 1,000 cases had been dealt with by the service. In addition, there had been 6,000 renegotiated or new rent supplement tenancies, mainly in Dublin, in the first six months of this year.

“It is not the best option to go homeless,” the Tánaiste added. “It is much better to deal with the community welfare service to see if a property can be accessed that suits the needs of the individuals in question.”