The Taoiseach has been accused of "making light" of the homelessness crisis in Ireland.

Sinn Féin housing spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin TD urged Leo Varadkar to retract his comments after making an inaccurate claim that Ireland has low levels of homelessness when compared on an international level.

He said: "Other states across the OECD have broader definitions of the term homelessness. Plus the OECD data that Varadkar's spin team used is two years out of date and makes it clear that countries count homelessness in different ways.

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"As I have pointed out to the government on many occasions our housing statistics are based on data from the department of housing.

"The figures published on a monthly basis does not include women and children in Túsla funded domestic violence accommodation. Nor does it include those sofa surfing or those involuntarily sharing unsuitable accommodation in over crowded conditions.

"The Taoiseach has yet again demonstrated his incompetence of all things housing related. I hope for the sake of those experiencing homelessness that it was an another embarrassing gaffe and not an honestly held belief.

"Comments like these are an attempt to normalise homelessness and make it more acceptable."

(CD/LM)