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	More than 2,700 children are now homeless across Ireland - with 2,262 of those based in Dublin, according to the latest figures released by the Housing Department.</p>
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	The increase in numbers comes after it was revealed that 12 families in the capital were instructed to go to garda stations earlier this week as there was no accommodation available.</p>
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	The figures, released last night for the end of April, show that there are now 1,302 families with 2,708 children now without a home - an increase of 65 children on last month.</p>
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	In total there were 4,972 adults declared as homeless, bringing the numbers to a total of 7,672 homeless in Ireland.</p>
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	Anthony Flynn of the Inner City Helping Homeless (ICHH) told Independent.ie the figures are a record high, and show no sign of dropping.</p>
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	Yet again we are seeing no improvement in the homeless crisis in Ireland as proper planning is not in place to assist these people in the short term,&quot; Mr Flynn said.</p>
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	&quot;In the same week that these figures are released ICHH has recorded record number of people sleeping rough.</p>
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	&quot;On Tuesday families were told to report to local garda stations as there was no accommodation available for them - one of these spent the night in the ICHH offices,&quot; he added.</p>
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	Despite the increase, the Housing Department insisted progress was being made.</p>
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	&quot;At the end of March a total of 870 homeless families were housed in commercial hotels and B&amp;B&#39;s in the Dublin region - at the end of April this figure had fallen to 695,&quot; they said.</p>
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	(Published by the Irish Independent on the 26th May 2017)</p>
<p>
	<a href="http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/news/over-2700-children-homeless-in-ireland-but-housing-department-insists-progress-is-happening-35758152.html">http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/news/over-2700-children-homeless-in-ireland-but-housing-department-insists-progress-is-happening-35758152.html</a></p>
