There has been a broad welcome for a new homelessness policy by the government.

It aims to end long-term homelessness by 2016.

The housing-led model aims to move away from traditional emergency-type accommodation which is expensive.

In December a count in the capital found at least 87 people sleeping rough on one night.

Minister for Housing and Planning Jan O'Sullivan is to host a roundtable discussion on homelessness with Ministers from other Member States on March 1st.

All EU Ministers have been invited to attend the discussion, to bring added focus to the EU involvement in the area of homelessness, to discuss issues of common interest and possible future cooperation so as to signal the strong support among Member States towards addressing and tackling the issue of homelessness.

€2.5 billion to help the homeless

The European Union announced earlier this month it is allocating €2.5 billion to help the homeless and families below the poverty line in Europe.

The Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived - or FEAD - will see aid agencies apply for funding to their own governments.

The scheme will replace an existing one which has seen free cheese distributed in many countries, including Ireland.

The European Parliament Rapporteur for the fund, MEP Emer Costello, has said the money is not enough but she hopes it will bring people in from the "margins of society".

Housing Minister Jan O'Sullivan says resources for the number of homeless is key.