Almost 500 families were made homeless in Dublin last year, according to new figures released by Focus Ireland.

Dublin City Sinn Féin Councillor Noeleen Reilly said she is "not surprised" at the increase in the number of families becoming homeless.

She said: "There is a complete shortage in private rented accommodation in Dublin and other cities and some landlords are basically charging whatever they want as people are so desperate. People on low incomes and rent allowance simply cannot afford these increased rents and are becoming homeless.

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"I could have anywhere between five and ten cases a week where people are coming to me with the threat of being evicted due to increase rents. Some people have managed to secure an increased in the rent allowance limit so they avoid homelessness for now but others have no choice to present themselves as homeless.

"For years we have been aware that families have been forced to pay extra to landlords under the table but the gap has got too big now for many and they simply cannot afford to do this nor should they have to."

According to Focus Ireland, in 2013 a total of 20 families a month became homeless in Dublin and last year the number doubled to 40 families becoming homeless in the capital city alone every month.

(CD/JP)