The number of applicants for the bed and breakfast service homeless people in Dublin increased from 731 in 1994 to 1,057 in 1995, according to figures issued by Dublin Corporation. The service, which is provided by the Eastern Health Board, cost £588,000, an increase of £128,000 on the previous year.
The main reason for the increase was the number of refugees seeking asylum, which grew from 64 in 1994 to 273 last year.
There was also an increase in applications from travellers from 67 in 1994 to 127 in 1995.