Around 320 'Rapid Build' Homes currently under construction in Ireland are expected to be completed by the end of this year.

Over 200 emergency beds are also being allocated for rough sleepers, according to the Minister for Housing Simon Coveney.

The Minister outlined the details of the Homelessness Pillar under 'Rebuilding Ireland – an Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness'.

The first pillar of the Action Plan is to address the homelessness problem and the overall intention is to address homelessness by providing for early housing solutions to address homelessness among families and individuals.

Minister Coveney said: "We are accelerating the provision of the 'Rapid Build' programme. By the end of 2018 at least 1,500 units will be provided. This year we will have some 300 homes under construction or completed by the end of the year. We have projects in Ballyfermot, Drimnagh, Belcamp and Finglas which have had enabling works carried out and construction is expected to commence next month.

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"We are expanding HAP Homeless Tenancies to deliver 550 in 2016 and 1,200 in 2017. So far this year in excess of 450 tenancies have been secured and we are confident we will exceed the target for this year. 69% of the households accommodated under the pilot are families with children.

"The progress I am highlighting today on the roll out of the Rapid Build Programme will take many families out of hotels and put them into temporary social housing until we provide a permanent home. The problem of homelessness and rough sleepers in particular are complex and at times it feels like we are running to stand still. We have made good progress this year by providing 1,350 exits from homelessness. I know this is not sufficient, but we will continue to work with the local authorities and service providers to deal with this problem.

"I think one thing that has been missing from the solution to the problem of homelessness previously has been the lack of joined-up Government thinking at times, and I'm pleased to see my colleagues the Ministers for Children & Youth Affairs and Health here today to outline their commitments to deal with the homeless problem in a collective and focused way."

(CD/LM)