Over 370 families were housed in emergency accommodation last month, new figures have revealed.

Fianna Fáil is blaming the government for allowing the homelessness crisis slip back down the agenda.

Spokesperson on Environment Barry Cowen TD said: "Last November the Taoiseach claimed that homelessness was a priority for the Government, but month on month we've seen the number of families forced out of their private rented accommodation and into emergency shelters rise steadily. The Government's social housing programme will take at least 18 months to deliver. Does the Taoiseach and the Environment Minister expect these families, and the countless others who will fall into the emergency accommodation trap over the next year, to live in hotels and hostels until these houses are built?

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"The Government is continuing with its spin that homelessness is one of its main priorities, but the reality is very different. The fact is the number of people falling into homelessness, especially in Dublin, is growing month on month. The vast majority of these people are coming from the private rental sector, where they can no longer afford rising rents.

"Minister Alan Kelly has done nothing to address rent supplement, despite the highly dysfunctional rental market. In fact it was this Government that made the decision to cut the rent supplement and rent cap. This measure has resulted in families being forced out of their homes because they can no longer afford the increasing rents. The abolition of the Mortgage Interest Supplement has placed even more pressure on struggling homeowners, who were already unable to meet their repayments, with some even being forced to hand back the keys to their family home."

(CD/MH)