Sinn Féin is to introduce its bill calling for the housing and homeless crisis to be addressed immediately in the Dáil on Tuesday, 29 September.

The party said the crisis has spiralled because of years of underinvestment in social housing by Fine Gael/Labour and previous Fianna Fáil led governments.

Spokesperson on Housing, Dessie Ellis TD, said: "Homeless people are being denied shelter; families are under increasing strain to keep a roof over their heads. And it is getting steadily worse. Almost 5,000 people state-wide are living in emergency accommodation; some 2,298 people living in emergency accommodation in Dublin, including 1,275 children.

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"It has come to this point because of years of underinvestment in social housing by Fine Gael/Labour and previous Fianna Fáil led governments. We also have to factor in years of bad planning, bad governance, property speculation and an over-reliance on the private sector to deliver our social housing needs.

"Rent supplement levels are totally inadequate – since this government came to power the spend has reduced by almost half. The Mortgage Interest Supplement has been cut from €77,246,000 to €11,930,000. Not only have supports been slashed - this government has made it easier for the banks to evict people in mortgage arrears resulting in more homelessness and housing overcrowding."

(CD/LM)