The number of homeless people in Ireland hit another new record high in the week before Christmas.

The latest Government figures show 11,632 were accessing emergency accommodation at the time – an increase of 90 on the week before.

It marks the first time the homeless figures have increased every month in a calendar year since records began.

It also marks a 30% rise on the figure recorded in December 2022.

"Shameful"

Focus Ireland CEO Pat Dennigan said the rise has completely wiped out the progress made during the pandemic.

“It is easy to just become despondent, but we need to use this setback to give us the impetus to take the steps that can change things,” he said.

He said it is crucial to remember that “homelessness is solvable”.

“It is not normal or acceptable and is due to nearly 10 years of poor policies and can be stopped over time by improved measures that are implemented quickly,” he said.

“The failures of successive governments have created a crisis where over 3,400 children will spend their days and nights in emergency accommodation.

“These are human beings, not just figures and too many children, families and single people are suffering trauma caused by homelessness.

“Ultimately lives are being stolen and we simply cannot accept this as a society.”

Homeless

The figures include 1,594 families and 3,442 children.

In Dublin alone, there are over 8,300 people accessing emergency services.

The figures from the Department of Housing don't include refugees, asylum seekers, women in refuge centres, or rough sleepers.