Concerns have been raised after two homeless people died in Belfast over Christmas.

Sinn Féin MP Paul Maskey said there is an urgent need for local councils, the Housing Executive and housing associations, and others to work collectively to tackle the problem.

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Mr Maskey said: "There is no doubt that homelessness is a real problem right across the island of Ireland.

"While the scale of the problem in Belfast has been dwarfed by the scale of the problem in Dublin and other cities as a result of the Irish government's policies which has led to families and children living on the streets, in cars and in unsuitable accommodation, any death on our streets in unacceptable."

(CD/LM)