Sinn Féin is calling on the Government to do more to prevent homelessness in Ireland.

The party's housing spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin TD made the call after figures on the Dublin Region Local Authority Homelessness Financial Report End of Year 2017 revealed the majority of the funding for 2017 in the Dublin region was spent on emergency accommodation.

Just over €97 million was spent on accommodating people in hotels, B&B's and hubs.

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He said: "More must be done to help assist people to stay in their homes which will in turn stem the flow of families into homelessness.

"There must be greater balance in the spend on homeless prevention and emergency accommodation services.

"It is clear that at the moment too much money is being spent on housing people in emergency accommodation, via commercial hotels and B&Bs.

"There are nearly 10,000 people homeless under Minister Eoghan Murphy's watch.

"This is unacceptable and it is inevitable that the number will continue to grow unless the government changes tack.

"There must be more investment in prevention and tenancy sustainment measures. Stronger protection for tenants at risk of homelessness must be introduced."

(CD/LM)