Fianna Fail has slammed the new Housing Minster over his decision to abandon targets for re-housing homeless families.

Spokesperson on Housing, Barry Cowen, said Minister Eoghan Murphy has shown his "true colours" and called for Tusla, a child and family agency, to "step in".

Mr Cowen said: "Lynam's Hotel in Dublin – which has been used as temporary accommodation for dozens of homeless families with children over the last two years – was closed yesterday by order of Dublin Fire Services due to significant fire safety concerns.

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"We need to know who made the call on housing homeless families in what was effectively a fire trap, and whether any inspections took place to advance of homeless families moving in.

"Since December 2014 child and family homelessness has trebled and there are currently 1,300 homeless families including 2,708 children. We now have a generation of children who know nothing other than growing up in hotels.

"While the Department has decided not to release figures on the number of new families becoming newly homeless, we know that every month, an additional 90 families become newly homeless in the capital – a tripling in the last three months to May.

"It says a lot about this Government's value system that it does not consider re-housing these families as a critical priority.

"It is time for Tusla to step in, and call a halt to this harmful scenario. No matter the cost, this has to end, and the Government can no longer shirk their responsibilities."

(CD/LM)