A record number of people are registered as homeless in Ireland for the fourth month in a row.

The Department of Housing figures show the total has reached 11,754.

The new figures for January show an increase of 122 people in one month, compared to the 11,632 homeless in December.

The total for January is 28% higher than a year ago, and 41% up on two years ago.

Some 11,754 people were registered as homeless last month and accessing emergency accommodation.

Source: Department of Housing

It includes 3,431 children - which is the highest number of children growing up in B&Bs and hotels in almost three years.

Dublin makes up 72% of the national figure where there is a total of 8,523 people homeless - including 2,577 children.

Extending eviction ban 'essential'

Housing charity Focus Ireland has called on the Government to extend the eviction ban, which is due to lifted from the end of next month.

CEO Pat Dennigan said: "The introduction of the winter eviction ban last October was essential.

"At the time all emergency homeless accommodation was full and over 1,000 households faced eviction by landlords wanting to sell up.

"Both those conditions still exist so it is essential that the ban be continued to avoid an additional surge in family homelessness.

"It is wrong to say, as some have claimed, that the winter eviction ban has failed, the situation would be far worse without it and will rapidly become worse if it is ended.

"What has failed is the Government’s attempts to use the breathing space to make a real difference," he added.

The figures released by the Department of Housing do not include refugees, asylum seekers, women in refuge centes or rough sleepers.

Main image: Homeless person shelters from the cold on the Ha’penny Bridge in Dublin. Image: Michael Rooney / Alamy