Darragh O’Brien says homelessness ‘first thing’ on his mind each morning

In the wake of the figures, homelessness charities urged the Government to make social housing a priority while Sinn Féin called for an urgent general election

Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien said homelessness is being tackled (Brian Lawless/PA)

Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien has said homelessness rates in Ireland are the “first thing” he thinks about every morning, as the country reached a new record of people in emergency accommodation.

There were 13,841 people accessing emergency homeless accommodation by the end of February, according to the latest figures.