Three children and parents found sleeping rough in Dublin city centre

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has been told to show some leadership and tackle the spiraling crisis of family homelessness.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has been told to show some leadership and tackle the spiralling crisis of family homelessness.

Three children and their parents were found in sleeping bags on Mountjoy Square in Dublin last night, when an emergency shelter failed to find them beds.

It emerged earlier this week that there has been a 55% rise in the number of families presenting homeless in the country since the start of the year.

That is despite an extra €12m being added to the homeless services budget by the Government.

Anthony Flynn, the director charity Inner City Helping Homeless, came to the help of the family sleeping rough last night.

He explained how they ended up in that situation.

"We were up until the early hours even trying to get them private accommodation through a hotel or a B&B, which was unsuccessful," he said.

"They're in better spirits this morning compared to what they were last night.

"When we got the whole story from them it seems that they were in private rented accommodation, and they've been homeless for three days.

"They've been three days on the streets and slept in the park for two nights."