The Simon Communities of Ireland have said that though there is a drop in family homelessness for the second month in a row, it is worrying that 2019 came to a close with nearly 10.500 people in emergency accommodation.

Record homelessness figures have triggered fresh demands for urgent action ahead of a confidence motion against Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy tonight.

The number of homeless people in Ireland has remained above the 10,000 mark for the seventh consecutive month.

Two Irish charities that deal with vulnerable children and families have each seen a marked increase in demands for their services over the past year.

Focus Ireland has said the homeless crisis is getting worse with newborn babies among those living in emergency accommodation.

Charities have warned that the spiralling homeless crisis could become viewed by the public as unsolvable unless the number of people in emergency accommodation is reversed.

The number of people homeless has exceeded 10,000 for the first time as a new report shows a year-on-year rise in rents.

Homeless charities have warned that the latest figures showing yet another new record number of homeless people in the country cannot be treated as “business as usual”.