A Dublin programme which treats people for drug and alcohol addiction has seen a massive increase in demand for its services.

The Coolmine Therapeutic Centre says there has been a 42% rise in their client numbers over the past year.

The centre is publishing its annual report today amid calls for the Housing Minister, Simon Coveney, to consider those tackling addictions when addressing the country’s housing problems.

Chairman of the Coolmine Centre, Alan Connolly, says it is almost impossible to get clean without having a suitable home to return to after treatment.

He said: “The question of housing supply has to be solved in order to avoid a situation where you know those in recovery end up return to a drug addiction environment or back to a difficult family situation, or even living rough and being homeless.”