Sinn Féin has hit out at Taoiseach Enda Kenny for failing many homeless families during his two years in office.

Mr Kenny will leave office today.

Housing spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin TD said his term in office "is epitomised by the deepening housing crisis".

He said: "The latest homeless figures indicate that 2,708 children are now living in emergency accommodation, an increase of 300% since Enda Kenny first took office.

"Under Enda Kenny's tenure we witnessed a slashing of the social housing capital budget. Capital investment in real social housing as low as €295m in 2013, when 293 social housing units were built across the State.

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"This figure dived to a new low when in 2015 only 75 council homes were built by local authorities. From 2011 until 2015 the state has delivered, through build, acquisition and Part V a paltry 3,543 real social units.

"It is no coincidence that due to the government’s failure to deliver a sufficient amount of real social homes there has been an exponential rise in the number of families presenting as homeless.

"The homeless figures have continued to rise steadily month by month and the Taoiseach refused to acknowledge that the state is in the throes of a homeless emergency.

"The truth is that this Taoiseach failed to act decisively or with any urgency to remedy a dysfunctional housing market and a growing homeless crisis. He had six years as leader of this State to ensure the level of children growing up in emergency accommodation fell not quadrupled. This is his true legacy."

(CD/MH)