Focus Ireland has issued four demands to the government in a response to the escalating family homeless crisis.

The organisation has called on the government to introduce a dedicated strategy to end family homelessness and a dedicated case worker for every homeless family. The government has also been asked to guarantee that no family will be left sleeping in a Garda station, and make a committment that no family will be in emergency accommodation longer than six months.

Sinn Féin Housing spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin TD backed the demands when speaking during Leaders' Questions in the Dáil.

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He said: "When Leo Varadkar became Taoiseach, there were 2,895 children in Department of Housing funded emergency accommodation.

"The latest figures published yesterday tell us that, in September, there were 3,829 children in emergency accommodation. On Leo Varadkar's watch, more than 1,000 children have become homeless.

He added: "Last week, I introduced the Prevention of Family Homeless Bill. This Bill, based on the Focus Ireland Amendment, would prevent buy-to-let landlords from issuing vacant possession notices to quit which is still the single biggest cause of family homelessness. 

"The Tánaiste Simon Coveney, during Leaders' Questions, said that the government were committed to tackling family homelessness but they needed more time.

"How much more time does the Government need? How many more children must become homeless before the Government realises that its housing plan is failing?

"If the Government meant what they said on homelessness, they would fully support and speedily implement the four Focus Ireland demands and commit to supporting Sinn Féin’s Prevention of Family Homelessness Bill when it comes before the Dáil later this session."

(CM/MH)