Sinn Féin have given their backing to the emergency housing plan launched by campaign group Home Sweet Home, who are currently occupying Apollo House in Dublin city centre.

Giving his support to the newly published plan, Sinn Féin housing spokesperson, Eoin Ó Broin TD, said: "The emergency housing plan is a sensible approach to tackling the housing crisis. Many of the measures articulated in the plan are not on unheard of or unreasonable. We must stem the tide of homelessness, which has increased again in November.

"A crucial anti homeless measure proposed by Focus Ireland and blocked by the government and Fianna Fail before Christmas would have helped thousands of families facing eviction in buy to let properties. I am happy to see it included amongst the five recommendations listed in the emergency plan aimed at preventing homelessness.

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"Sinn Féin has stated at length that the Minister has to be more ambitious in its real social housing targets. A key recommendation of the cross party Housing and Homelessness committee was for a minimum of 10,000 new real social units to be delivered on an annual basis. This is also a listed as a key target in the Home Sweet Home plan. Ramping up the delivery of additional social housing units would take the pressure off the private rented sector and reduce demand for private sector accommodation for social housing tenants."

Deputy Ó Broin added that the Home Sweet Home campaign and occupation of Apollo House would not be necessary if the government was "adequately providing for the housing needs of the people".

(MH/CD)