Former presidential candidate Sean Gallagher has hit out at the government's response to homelessness.

It is the latest signal that the businessman is preparing a second bid for the presidency.

In a half-page article on the back of the Sunday Independent this morning, Mr Gallagher said the homeless crisis is a “national disgrace” that is being “further compounded by the failure of Government to provide proper leadership on the issue.”

Mr Gallagher was one of six candidates to lose out to President Michael D Higgins in the 2011 election.

He has yet to put his name forward for the 2018 race – however there has been much speculation that he is simply biding his time.

In his article this morning, he notes that “strong and determined leadership” is required to tackle the homeless crisis and warns that this is “something that appears to be lacking at this time.”

He called for a “joined-up strategy” to be developed by Government that would put a crisis team in place to provide weekly updates on the crisis.

He called for the “correct leadership, focus and strategy to be applied so we can address this issue now and for the long term.”

“Our children deserve no less,” he said.

The article comes after a week in which a number of councillors around the country called on Mr Gallagher to enter the presidential race.