Statistics released to Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín TD, under the Freedom of Information Act by Dublin City Council, show that 382 homeless people have died in Dublin since 2018.
Last year alone, 95 people died while homeless in the capital.
“These are incredibly tragic figures, behind each one of these statistics is a human being, and perhaps a family,” Deputy Tóibín said.
“There can be no doubt now that the issue of homelessness is not just a humanitarian crisis but a national emergency, and it needs to be treated as such.
“I would urge people to think deeply about these figures – 95 homeless people died in Dublin last year. Homeless deaths are not recorded in other counties, so we don’t have national statistics. This in itself is a disgrace.
“The Minister really needs to wake up – he keeps promising an investigation into this, but we don’t need talk and task forces, we need concrete action.
“We need beds. We need food. We need social workers. We need education.
“We need mental health services and drug rehab centres.
“Many of those who’ve died have died by suicide and drug overdoses.
“We need to start funnelling resources and funding into working class areas, the task cannot be offloaded onto community groups and volunteers – we need government funding.
“We need an expansion of the third level access course and an education system geared towards people from disadvantaged areas, an education system which makes education attractive and interesting.
“My heart breaks when I see these statistics, and we in Aontú will be raising this issue in the Dáíl at the next available opportunity”, concluded Tóibín.