A time specific taskforce has been proposed to address the crisis in child homelessness across Ireland.

Fianna Fáil Housing spokesperson Darragh O’Brien TD called for a taskforce following reports last week of young mother Margaret Cash and her six children sleeping in their local Garda station.

The mother and her children, including a one year old baby, were forced to sleep in the station because they had nowhere to go.

Deputy O'Brien said: "The reports which emerged from Tallaght are appalling but shockingly this wasn't an isolated incident. Several families across the country had been left with no other choice but to present themselves and their children to a Garda Station for accommodation.

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"Surely we have the resources and the capacity at the very least to ensure that children do not have to sleep in Garda Stations?

"The number of children living in homelessness has been steadily on the rise, that's even clear from the Department of Housing's own data. Despite these rises the Government have continued to turn a blind eye to the problem and tolerate the consistent neglect of homeless children."

He added: "I have contacted the Minister for Housing, Eoghan Murphy TD and have arranged a meeting to urge him to support our call for the establishment of this taskforce.

"There are of course other abject failures occurring in housing more generally but child homelessness is a crisis that must be urgently solved. The welfare of children in this State must be protected at all costs," concluded Deputy O'Brien.

(CM/MH)