The Health Service Executive has said it is actively in negotiations with the Department of Health to obtain funds to meet the needs of homeless people in Ireland.
It follows a report by RTÉ's Prime Time which found that new homeless accommodation was lying idle because the HSE said it could not afford the staff needed to run them.
Last night's programme reported that the HSE's decision to cut this year's funding to homeless services is jeopardising a Government plan aimed at eliminating the problem.
Seven homeless people died in Dublin in a two-week period over Easter this year and at the same time, Prime Time said, at least five major homeless facilities in Dublin were either lying idle or being under-utilised due to a lack of HSE funding.
A 30-bed facility in James Street was due to open earlier this year but remains closed, while in Brunswick Street only seven of 17 family units have been used since January.
Prime Time also reported that a new homeless service in Middle Abbey Street has been denied HSE funding for running costs and in Cork Street, an emergency accommodation facility for homeless people with special needs remains under-utilised.
In Bolton Street, the future of a proposed accommodation facility also hangs in the balance.
Responding to the report, the HSE denied there were cutbacks but said it was in negotiations with the Department of Health to get additional funding.
