Katherine Zappone: Homelessness now a national emergency

Children’s Minister Katherine Zappone has said it is time politicians and those in power stop avoiding the issue and accept that homelessness and child homeless rates are now a “national emergency”.

Latest figures show more than 3,200 children and 9,000 people are homeless.

Ms Zappone, speaking to the Irish Examiner, said it is understandable people feel it is “not good enough” for politicians to simply say they are upset over the crisis.