Housing summit convened following deaths of homeless people

The Government is to convene an emergency housing summit next week in the wake of the deaths of two homeless people and amid stinging criticism of Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.

Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy announced the meeting of county council bosses and senior officials after the two deaths piled further pressure on the Government to address the housing crisis.

Mr Murphy said the meeting will take place in his department in the Customs House in Dublin and will explore additional measures to help and to house families and individuals living in emergency accommodation and accessing emergency State supports.