Four homeless people have been found dead, in towns as far apart as Tralee and Bray, so far this winter.

This is combined with a 20 per cent increase in the number of people sleeping rough in Dublin since April.

The Simon Communities also noted a rise in the numbers of homeless in Cork, up from two in March to nine people sleeping rough each night in October.

Both of these increases are despite the opening of extra shelter beds.

The charity says they have  seen an increase in the numbers of people turning to their services all around the country recently.

National Spokesperson, Niamh Randall said the Government has a role to play in keeping homeless numbers down:

Homeless services are beyond the point of being able to do more and more with less and less. Government must provide the funding necessary to address the crisis. Constant cutbacks undermine our efforts to provide sufficient housing with health and social care support to meet the needs of the thousands of people who are now homeless.

Homelessness video with a difference will make you cry >

Read: Number of people sleeping rough in Dublin increases >