The HIQA is best placed to conduct a thorough child protection inspection of emergency homeless accommodation, according to Sinn Fein.

Housing spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin TD said the office of Ombudsman for Children highlighted its serious concerns about the poor conditions some families in emergency accommodation are living in.

He said: "One in three people in emergency homeless accommodation is a child and, unfortunately, this figure is rising every month, with 2,226 children recorded in May this year. Sinn Féin is deeply concerned about the length of time families are spending in this type of accommodation and the poor conditions they often have to endure. This is evidenced in FOI data provided to TheJournal.ie which details the complaints made by residents of homeless accommodation facilities of the appalling conditions they are living. This included drug use, cockroach infestations, and damp and mouldy conditions.

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"Sinn Féin believe that HIQA is best placed to conduct a thorough child protection inspection of emergency homeless accommodation. The organisation has experience of inspecting similar accommodation services when it conducted an inspection of child and welfare services provided to children living in direct provision accommodation in areas across the state back in 2015."

(CD)