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There were 6,906 people recorded as homeless on census night 2016. Eamonn Farrell/RollingNews.ie

'For people with disabilities this is a crisis within a crisis'

This is the reality for a growing number of people.

EARLIER THIS WEEK, figures from Census 2016 painted a picture of the homelessness situation in Ireland.

It showed that there were 6,906 people recorded as homeless on the night in April last year when the census was taken, 123 of whom were sleeping rough.

Among those people who were homeless, 1,871 persons indicated that they had a disability. That adds up to a disability rate of 27%, double that of the general population.

Disability adds an extra layer to the problems of those who are homeless and also makes finding suitable accommodation more difficult.

For example, it’s estimated that there are 7,600 people with disabilities on social housing waiting lists around the country.

Deputy CEO of the Disability Federation of Ireland Allen Dunne describes the disability rate among homeless people as a “crisis within a crisis”.

“We find this fact totally unacceptable, but sadly not surprising when all major indices show a worsening situation for people with disabilities,” he explains.

Homelessness is set against the backdrop of a housing crisis. For people with disabilities that is a crisis within a crisis which is even more chronic than that suffered by the general population. The logical result of this is people with disabilities on the streets.

The high disability rate among homeless people is part of the wider issue of a lower than average level of health and wellbeing among disabled people.

The DFI points to research which shows that the consistent poverty rate among disabled people rose from 14% to 22% in 2015 alone.

This is in addition to figures which show that 69% of working age people with a disability are not currently at work.

The Simon Community said in response to the census figures that it has not conducted any research on the specific issue of disability within homelessness but that it is one which its support teams encounter regularly.

Read: ‘We don’t want another deadzone’: Outrage over backtrack on housing in new Limerick development >

Read: ‘A loss of dignity’: Homeless children are living on takeaways and dining on the floor >

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17 Comments
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    Mute Ross MacCárthaigh
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    Jan 15th 2014, 3:26 PM

    Good News for clubs etc that want to travel to events and keep costs down. Such clubs usually struggle for funds. Ryanair making some good changes lately. Check in with phone next please!

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    Mute Stephen D
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    Jan 15th 2014, 4:47 PM

    You can’t get a flight for €20 and expect Emirates first class service. Maybe someday the naysayers will realize this.

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    Mute Dave Dson
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    Jan 15th 2014, 3:14 PM

    Now 20 people can have a sore arsê after 30 minutes instead of just one. Progress.

    22
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    Mute William Grogan
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    Jan 15th 2014, 4:10 PM

    I’ve flown many times with Ryanair, I’m 6ft and I’ve never got a “sore arse”. Maybe your big fat wallet in your back pocket is causing your problem.

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    Mute Pat Donlon
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    Jan 15th 2014, 4:11 PM

    I think shareholders should fire Mr O’Leary with immediate effect for been an a!!hole for the last tn”years. All of the current changes were OBVIOUS and could have made them billions more if implemented long long ago

    21
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    Mute John the Baptist
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    Jan 15th 2014, 4:33 PM

    yes Pat ‘ Billions’ and they were so obvious that Aer Lingus who have them for some time have also made ‘ Billions’ from them. Ask any Ryanair investor They are blissfully happy with Michael’s business model

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    Mute brian magee
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    Jan 15th 2014, 11:33 PM

    So Pat, you think that you could have created one of the largest airline in the worlds from what Aer lingus once described as a small regional airline.
    The man is a genius and has done a great job to date. I reckon the share holders live him

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    Mute gerbreen
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    Jan 16th 2014, 12:15 AM

    AL employee?

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    Mute Rodger 5
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    Jan 15th 2014, 5:41 PM

    How about cutting the cost of bringing a bike? you do get groups of cyclists.

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    Mute Conor Mac Manus
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    Jan 15th 2014, 3:44 PM

    Sounds very messy, imagine sharing a flight with a hen etc.

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    Mute Chris Judge
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    Jan 15th 2014, 3:59 PM

    It’s not going to be much messier than it already is. I assume people already travel in large groups on other airlines, even with Ryanair. This will just make it simpler to book those flights.

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    Mute ferbo
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    Jan 15th 2014, 4:48 PM

    And they will refuse boarding to some if they are short of seats – You pay for EU261 protection, but Ryanair do not allow EU261 claims for denied boarding! May their planes drop out of the sky!

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    Mute Aaron
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    Jan 15th 2014, 4:58 PM

    Your an absolute g*bshite!

    66
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    Mute Aaron
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    Jan 15th 2014, 5:04 PM

    You’re*

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    Mute Ray McMonagle
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    Jan 15th 2014, 7:48 PM

    Ryanair do not oversell flights

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    Mute brian magee
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    Jan 15th 2014, 11:34 PM

    What are you on about? European air lines don’t over sell seats

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    Mute RonanM123
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    Jan 16th 2014, 3:05 AM

    All airlines do especially on high freq routes by around 5-10% on average.

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    Mute brian magee
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    Jan 16th 2014, 3:38 PM

    No they don’t

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    Mute Timmay Timeo
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    Jan 15th 2014, 9:50 PM

    Avoid avoid avoid….forever

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    Mute Aaron
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    Jan 16th 2014, 3:43 PM

    Brian Ryanair overbook their flights by 10% in most cases as studies show 10% of pax don’t show up. 189 pax on the plane, booked for 208, 10% no show for check in leaves just under a full flight

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