Sinn Féin has raised serious concerns over the family homelessness crisis in Ireland.

Housing spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin TD has written to the CEO of HIQA Phelim Quinn, the Minister for Housing Eoghan Murphy, and Minister for Children Katherine Zappone requesting a child protection HIQA inspection of emergency accommodation.

Deputy Ó Broin said: "HIQA published a report in May 2015 on the child and welfare services provided to children living in direct provision accommodation in areas across the state. This report detailed the results of inspections undertaken by HIQA off the back of concerns about the high number of children living in direct provision centres who had been referred to Tusla.

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"Worryingly, the report also voiced concern about referrals arising from children's living conditions that were outside that of the control of the Child and Family Agency. These referrals were varied in nature and included children sustaining accidental injuries where cramped living conditions were identified as a contributing factor.

"Therefore I wrote to the relevant Ministers and HIQA formally asking for a HIQA inspection of the child protection and welfare services provided to children living in all government funded emergency accommodation including Section Ten and local authority funded emergency homeless accommodation."

(CD/LM)