A group of Sinn Féin councillors are to take part in a sleep out tonight, 16 October, to raise awareness about the ongoing housing crisis in Ireland.

The Cork councillors will be sleeping outside the County Hall from 6pm on Friday to 6am on Saturday and they are calling on supporters to participate.

Sinn Féin Cllr Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire said: "We are doing this to raise some money for homeless charities, and have been collecting money through sponsorship. However, we are also doing it to make a point. The issue of homelessness, and the housing crisis generally, is a problem that is escalating. I am concerned, after looking at the budget, that the political will does not exist to tackle it.

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"In Cork, between City and County, there are some 15,000 people on the Housing lists. Finding Rental Accommodation near the City, particularly for those on low and middle incomes is nearly impossible. Throughout the state, nearly 1400 children are in emergency accommodation.

"The Simon Community found the Budget bitterly disappointing, as it has failed to tackle a rental sector that is out of control. The level of capital funding for social housing is also inadequate. They are essentially running to stand still.

"Fine Gael and the Labour Party are in denial. This is a national emergency. Government TDs, including Ciarán Lynch and Jerry Buttimer, recently voted down a Sinn Féin Dáil motion that would have officially seen it declared it as such, allowing the state to access additional resources through the EU to help address the issue. The government's approach to the situation is absolutely delusional. They are clearly not taking this crisis seriously enough."

(CD/LM)