New figures have revealed a record 9,872 people are currently homeless in Ireland.

The latest Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government data states that 3,824 of the total number homeless are children, while 6,048 are adults.

Commenting on the figures, Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy said: "Obviously any increase in people accessing emergency accommodation is unwelcome but it is good to see a decrease in the number of children and we are seeing a continued stabilisation of the numbers of people in emergency accommodation.

"The increase from May to June 2018 was 26. For the corresponding period in 2017, we saw an increase of 242 adults and dependents so the change is much better when compared to last year.

"Encouragingly other figures released today show that the number of families and individuals waiting for a social housing home across the country has fallen by 16% since the same time last year and that the provision of social housing is on target for 2018."

However, Labour Housing spokesperson, Jan O'Sullivan, said the ongoing monthly increase is shocking and called for immediate action to be taken.

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"It is deeply worrying that the number of people who are homeless continues to increase, with a total of 9,872 now without a home," she said.

"Rebuilding Ireland promised to end the use of hotels for families to live in, except for short-term emergencies. Two years later, that promise is still unfulfilled.

"What we need to see now is a more urgent response from the State. The failure to roll out rapid build housing is an example that hasn't been explained and would go some way as a short term solution.

"Also as an immediate reaction we need to see an aggressive effort to bring vacant and empty houses back into use in the coming weeks and months so that homes can be provided to families before school returns in September.

"These families and the children affected are in truly precarious situations, filled with anxiety about the future that no child should have to endure. The State is responsible for addressing this and the Minister must respond with emergency measures."

Focus Ireland Chief Executive Officer, Pat Dennigan, said there is a real risk of the constantly rising number of people becoming homeless each month 'becoming the norm'.

"3 years ago in June 2015 there were 1,318 children homeless. This was seen as shocking at the time but the total has now trebled in only 3 years to a shameful 3,824," he said.

"The number of families homeless has shot up by 170% in the same period from 650 in June 2015 to 1,754 in June 2018. In the last month 92 families in Dublin became newly homeless, this is the highest June figure ever recorded."

Mr Dennigan added that despite the crisis, there is still "much good work being done".

"Focus Ireland – in partnership with the State – helped over 1,060 households to secure a home and move on last year," he said.

"This shows homelessness can be solved, but with the numbers becoming homeless increasing every month we are having to run to even stand still in terms of the crisis. This is wrong, unsustainable and much more needs to be done."

(LM/MH)