It has emerged that a homeless man died sleeping rough in Bray, Co Wicklow at the weekend.

Gardaí have confirmed that the body of the man in his 40s was discovered on Boghall Road early Saturday morning.

It is the fourth death of a homeless person in recent weeks.

Tánaiste Francis Fitzgerald says the latest death is a tragedy.

Speaking in the Dáil, she said: "The thoughts and sympathy of this house go out to that person, and indeed to their family in these absolutely tragic circumstances."

Commenting on the tragedy, People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett said: "I do not know the exact circumstances of this personal, human tragedy for this man and his family - but it cannot be anything other than a shameful stain on this State that yet another person was living in a tent ill.

"This has happened again and again in recent weeks against the background of an absolutely shameful housing and homelessness emergency."