Fr Peter McVerry has said the Department of Social and Family Affairs has constantly ignored calls to increase the rent supplement.

95% of advertised rental properties are out of reach of people receiving rent supplement.

The Taoiseach Enda Kenny has again ruling out increasing rent supplement as part of the response to the housing and homeless crisis.

Campaigner Fr Peter McVerry says the Department of Social Protection is creating homelessness by not increasing rent allowance rates.

Increasing rent supplements would cost an extra €86m a year and push those on low incomes out of the market, Kevin Humphreys, minister of state at the Department of Social Protection, said.