Almost 100 homeless in Midlands on census night

Newly published figures have shown that 94 people were homeless in the Midlands when the census was taken in April of last year.

Fifty males and 44 females were either sleeping rough or in accommodation designated for the homeless across the counties of Westmeath, Offaly, Laois and Longford.

The census results, which were published yesterday (Thursday), were compiled with input from agencies providing services to the homeless, including county councils, the Simon community, and the Society of St Vincent De Paul.

Nationally, there 6,906 homeless people on census night. The average age of the homeless population was 31 years. Some 896 families - and 1,846 people aged under 18 - were counted as being homeless on the night of the census. Non-Irish nationals comprised 14% of the overall total.

The vast majority of homeless people in Ireland - 5,009, or 72.5% - were based in Dublin.

Commenting on the findings, Deirdre Cullen, senior statistician with the Central Statistics Office, said they would “help to further improve our understanding of this complex issue, by providing important new information on the social and economic circumstances of homeless persons.â€

“The collection of data in this important area could not have been achieved without the input and assistance of a broad range of both government and non-government stakeholders, and the CSO would like to thank all concerned for their cooperation in this,†she added.