The number of people in emergency accommodation rose to 9,724 in October as more than 14,000 people signed a petition calling on the Minister for Housing to put a six-month cap on the use of B&Bs and hotels for children.

A homeless family of seven living mostly in one hotel bedroom are to sue the Minister for Housing as well as a local authority to decide if they are entitled to a particular standard of accommodation.

Because of the downturn in the building industry in recent years, partially completed private housing developments have been lying unsold. Uncertainty reigned and nothing happened.

A major expansion of the drinking water treatment plant for the Dublin region has been approved by the Minister for Housing.