New homelessness figures from the Government show new record highs with 7,167 homeless adults and children in January compared to 7,148 in December.

That's a rise of a quarter since this time last year, when a total of 5,715 people were homeless. 

The total number of homeless families is still up by a third on this time last year from 884 to 1,172. 

Focus Ireland have pointed out that behind the figures there are huge numbers of families still losing their homes, with the charity’s own monthly figures for Dublin showing that 87 families with 151 children became homeless this month.

Mike Allen, Director of Advocacy at Focus Ireland said "This means that shockingly a child became homeless every 5 hours in Dublin during the month of January."

He continued by saying "In recent years we have seen a pattern of a fall in the number of families becoming homeless in December followed by sudden increase in January. This year there is a different pattern with no real fall in December, and a small fall in January.

"Behind this pattern we see continued high numbers entering homelessness in Dublin and even higher numbers being supported to escape homelessness and find new homes."

Emergency accommodation 

Sinn Féin housing spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin accused Minister for Housing Simon Coveney of trying to "bury bad news" as the January homelessness figures released this evening show yet another increase in the number of people in emergency accommodation.

Speaking about the figures, Deputy Ó Broin said "The January homeless figures published by the Department of Housing this evening show yet another increase in the number of people in emergency accommodation. The number of households in emergency accommodation has increased by 84. 

"On that month 4,760 adults were in emergency accommodation, an increase of 117 people on December."