It has emerged a homeless man had died sleeping rough in Bray, Co. Wicklow, at the weekend.
Gardaí have confirmed that the body of the man in his 40s was discovered at Boghall Road early Saturday morning.
It is the fourth death of a homeless person in recent weeks.
The Tánaiste Francis Fitzgerald told the Dáil it is a tragedy.
She said: "The thoughts and sympathy of this house go out to that person and their family in these absolutely tragic circumstances.
"But to take the key point about providing housing to individuals in this country, clearly that is what the Government wants to do.
"That's why the budget for homelessness, in fact has doubled, and rightly so."