A former Lord Mayor of Dublin says he's considering going on hunger strike to highlight the homeless problem.
Councillor Christy Burke who works with Inner City Helping Homeless says 153 people were sleeping rough last night.
He warned that he has seen a major increase in the number of young men and woman on the city streets and the situation is as bad as he's seen.
"Most of these men and woman are in need of urgent rehabilitation, residential treatment, very good quality after care and a good opportunity in life to turn their lives around.
The Taoiseach is aware of the figures, senior management of Dublin City Council are aware of the figures, I sent them on. And there is a small group of myself and a couple of colleagues who are seriously considering entering in to a hunger strike to highlight this."
He added the hunger strike may "achieve a sincere political approach to do the right thing. Putting a plaster over the fracture is not going to fix it. I am sick and tired of raising the issue, and listening to 'this will be done and that will be done'. We are going to discuss our plans and our way forward."
Christy was on the streets last night and said he fed a 22 year old woman in Temple Bar lying flat on the ground on a blanket. On Tuesday night he met a 19 year old woman at the Four Courts who is in addiction and can't get help.
Christy Burke spoke to Adrian Kennedy on 98FM's Dublin Talks on Thursday morning.
Listen to his interview, in full, by clicking play on the link below.
