Sinn Féin is calling on the Environment Minister to appear before the Dáil to answer questions in releation to an €18.5m deficit in the Dublin City Council budget to deal with homelessness.

Sinn Féin Deputy Leader Mary Lou McDonald has described the government stance on homelessness as "nothing short of inept".

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Deputy McDonald said: "I was deeply troubled by the non-answers I received from the Taoiseach when I directly challenged him on the very serious issue of the €18.5 million deficit in the DCC budget for homelessness. Amidst his usual bluster, it became apparent that, when it comes to the homelessness and housing crisis, this government is simply inept.

"The government rapidly needs to examine its approach to homelessness and realise that the sticking plaster approach that it takes to social policy is not good enough. This is not about making headlines; this is about helping some of the most vulnerable in our society. "

(CD/JP)