Fianna Fail and Fine Gael have been slammed for "blocking" an anti-homeless measure in the Dáil.

The Focus Ireland measure was an amendment to the Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill.

It was defeated by a combination of Fine Gael opposition and Fianna Fáil abstention.

Deputy Ó Broin said: "The purpose of the amendment was to make it more difficult for professional landlords to evict tenants when they want to sell the house.

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"The amendment would prevent landlords who had brought a property with a buy-to-let mortgage or availed of Section 23 property tax reliefs from evicting tenants when they were selling the house.

"The reason why Focus Ireland drafted and proposed this amendment was because the majority of families they are working with were made homeless when a professional landlord issued a notice to quit on the grounds that they were selling the property.

"As a result, thousands of families and 2500 children will spend Christmas in hotels and B&Bs.

"It is deeply disappointing that these two parties decided to block this important amendment to the Housing Bill. If enacted, it would have prevented families from becoming homeless in the coming months. That is why Focus Ireland asked all parties to support it."

(CD/MH)