1,000 children are living in hotel accommodation around the country because their families are homeless.

The figure comes from a new report by the Department of the Environment.

This week the Government promised more than €300m to build 1,700 homes over the next two years in a massive social housing scheme.

However the Father Peter Mc Verry trust has warned that rent caps will need to be lowered in the meantime to allow those on social welfare find accommodation.

Pat Doyle is CEO of the charity - he says hotels just aren't suitable for children: