Plans to increase the number of social houses being built “fall far short” of what is required to address the escalating crisis, a key homeless charity has claimed.

Health Minister Leo Varadkar has not ruled out the possibility of introducing childcare tax breaks for struggling families, despite Children’s Minister James Reilly effectively rejecting the move last week.

HUNDREDS of dead babies from mother-and-baby homes across the country were dissected in Irish universities — without the knowledge or permission of their mothers.

The appointment of an independent watchdog to ensure the Church is implementing its child protection policy will be announced within days, it emerged today.