Sinn Fein has once again called for the homelessness issue throughout Northern Ireland to be tackled immediately.

Cllr Jim McVeigh welcomed the announcement that Belfast City Council is to restore the wooden benches used by homeless people in the city centre, however he said the situation should "never have happened in the first place".

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He said: "This city needs to do everything in its power to get homeless citizens off the streets and into shelter.

"One homeless person is one too many.

"The restoration of these benches, while welcome, is not enough and more needs to be done on top of the incredible work already being done by homeless support groups in Belfast.

"Sinn Féin is absolutely committed to doing everything we can to end homelessness in Belfast and across Ireland."

(CD/MH)