The Government has been accused of "doing very little" to address the ongoing housing crisis in Ireland.

Sinn Féin TD Seán Crowe said the 39% rise in the number of families and children who are homeless is "unacceptable".

The statistics were released by the Dublin Simon Community and has the total homeless population in the region currently at 4,962.

Deputy Seán Crowe said: "There has been a 65% increase in the number of homeless families presenting in Dublin in the last 12 months and every indicator suggests that crisis is set to deepen in the coming months. This rise has to be halted and realistic proposals agreed and acted on.

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"Sinn Féin have proposed effective solutions to alleviate the homeless crisis, including the building of 100,000 new social and affordable homes, measures that ensure 20% of social and affordable housing on all new developments and the making an extra €30 million available for emergency housing.

"We clearly need all politicians to get on board and to work to eliminate this crisis. We need action to solve the problem, not meaningless gestures or empty rhetoric.

"In the coming weeks, the Governments budget proposals are due to be released. Housing and homelessness and measures that will address the crisis need to be at the forefront of this year's budget. Unfortunately and unless urgent attention is taken every indicator suggests that the homeless and housing situation will only get worse."

(CD/LM)