Sinn Fein has hit out at the European Union (EU) over its failure to recognise that the rise in poverty is a direct consequence of its austerity policies.

Dublin Sinn Féin MEP Lynn Boylan was speaking in Strasbourg today, 14 April, after a report - Meeting anti-poverty targets in light of increasing household costs - acknowledged that access to housing is a "fundamental right".

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She said: "The gap between rich and poor is widening. This is a fact that has been highlighted in numerous reports recently. In Ireland three quarters of a million people are living in poverty and 13% of those actually have a job so we need to have decent living wages.

"For example, a UNICEF report released this week has, to our shame, indicated that nearly one third of Irish children are growing up in deprived households.

"Another consequence of rising poverty in Ireland is a severe crisis in housing and homelessness as a result of government austerity policies.

"This report acknowledges housing as a fundamental right and its call for the expansion of the supply of quality social housing, should be heeded by the incoming government in Ireland."

(CD/MH)