An average of 260 housing-related queries were put to the Citizens Information Service every day last year.

Almost half of those subject to racism in housing estates are children while the majority of victims are of black African descent, a new study shows.

Housing Minister Simon Coveney is facing mounting opposition pressure to include rent control measures in a Government plan to tackle the housing market when it is published next month.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny was upbeat at the 15th Young Social Innovators awards ceremony in Dublin yesterday.

Sr Stanislaus Kennedy calls for Ireland's politicians to assume a more active role when it comes to fighting the injustices suffered by the thousands of refugees who have flooded into Europe in the past few years.

Some of the most memorable news events of the year, both heartening and heartbreaking, were recalled at the annual People of the Year Awards.

The government ignore everything except the latest crisis and then reach for a quick-fix solution, writes Michael Clifford

At the end of a week in which government ministers engaged shamelessly in a vote-buying exercise, making budget pledges that amount to at least €1.5bn, Sister Stanislaus Kennedy brought us all back to earth — 85 families were made homeless last month and the policies being pursued by those same government ministers are to blame.

Focus Ireland slams government policy as user rate rose from 8,000 in 2012 to 11,500 last year

A Fine Gael TD has warned against a plan to “export” or rehouse homeless Dubliners in rural areas and claims they will bring criminal behaviour to the Midlands.

The Immigrant Council of Ireland (ICI) has asked the Taoiseach to extend the Irish Naval Service’s humanitarian mission in the Mediterranean into the winter months.

Sr Stanislaus Kennedy has admitted she could never have imagined that the homelessness situation would be as bad as it is now when she founded Focus Ireland 30 years ago.

A person’s right to a home and adequate housing should be enshrined in the Constitution, a leading social justice campaigner has demanded.

When the Government unveiled its social housing strategy last November it announced its intention to accommodate everyone (90,000 households) on the Housing Waiting Lists by 2020.

Students from Largy College in Clones, Co Monaghan, were yesterday named the Young Social Innovators for 2015.

The head of the Catholic Church in Ireland is opening up a church property to rough sleepers after a homeless man died across the street from the Dáil.

The death of a homeless man across the street from the Dail is a damning reflection of the state’s failure to protect the worst off, it has been claimed.

Focus Ireland is urging the Government to introduce rent controls or increase rent allowance in order to prevent further homelessness in Ireland.

A decision on whether to raise rent supplements to keep pace with rocketing rents will not be made until the new year, despite growing levels of homelessness.

Over 10,000 people found themselves having to avail of the services of a leading homeless charity last year.

Focus Ireland founder Sr Stanislaus Kennedy realised she had to slow down after she was hit by a virus. But she doesn’t find being mindful easy.

Self-awareness and self-defence were strong themes among stage performances by teens showcasing their work to highlight social issues.

SCHOOLGIRLS in Cork City are teaching their peers that looks are not all-important and to be happy in themselves.

It is frustrating to me that homelessness is still an issue in Ireland.

Around 800 people are expected to attend the Irish Cancer Society’s free conference for cancer survivors later this month in Dublin.

Hundreds of students from almost 40 schools around Munster are speaking out about how issues such as cyber-bullying, mental health, and sudden adult death syndrome affect them.

Women who have made a proven contribution to society, such as former president Mary McAleese or advocate for the homeless Sr Stanislaus Kennedy, should be considered as future cardinals, according to a leading Catholic priest.

While the publication of the Independent Child Death Review Group’s report is undoubtedly welcomed, its mere disclosure into the public domain does not guarantee that our society will adequately change its practices into how it deals with our most vulnerable children.

A group of Cork students who have been campaigning to establish a national day for missing people were last night named as Young Social Innovators of the year 2012.

The celebrities championing the works of art in RTÉ’s Masterpiece campaign to discover Ireland’s favourite painting may be better known than the artists.

Close to 40 new cases have been uncovered of women as young as 14 years old having been committed to Magdalene laundries by the State.

Cyclists are saddling up for a fundraising tour through one of the most scenic regions of Cork to help fight homelessness.

FIONNUALA Gill was a founding member of choral group Anúna, and a lead singer with Riverdance. The 43-year-old, who’s based in Portmarnock, now has a solo career and was encouraged by Eurovision winners Secret Garden.

Ireland is witnessing a return to the values of the ‘Poor Law’ times where a person must be completely destitute before they get any help from the State, the founder of Focus Ireland Sr Stanislaus Kennedy has warned.

Irish painters such as Seán Scully and Paul Henry will go up against master Caravaggio in the battle for Ireland’s favourite painting.

WHILE many countries have war museums, few celebrate the struggle for peace in the same way.

EXPLORING English, the well-thumbed short story collection for several generations of Irish students, has just been re-published.

THE number of people supported by a homeless charity increased by almost 20% last year and there are signs it may have to come to the aid of almost 10,000 people this year.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has opened the door for Government and unions to create a new form of social partnership on workers’ rights.

Pay agreements for low earners, the banking crisis and job creation will be top of the agenda for trade unionists this week.

A GROUP of Cork students who played a leading role in raising awareness of suicide among young people in their community were last night named as Young Social Innovators of the Year 2011.