The Housing Minister has been accused of "failing families" after figures revealed a rise in homelessness.

The latest figures showed that 4,972 adults and 2,708 children are living in emergency accommodation, according to data from the Department of Housing.

Sinn Féin Housing spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin TD said Minister Simon Coveney has been an "abject failure" in dealing with the homeless crisis.

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He said: "The scale of the homelessness problem is such that emergency accommodation services are now at capacity with 12 families having nowhere to go last Tuesday. Minister English confirmed during our exchange that there has been a significant increase in the number of families presenting as homeless since the start of the year.

"Government policy is failing families at risk of homelessness and those who are spending increasing periods of time in emergency accommodation. Under Minister Coveney's watch, families are now spending up to two years trapped in inappropriate hotels and B&Bs.

"The Minister for Housing must do more to keep families in their homes."

(CD/LM)