Sinn Fein is calling on the government to increase its investment in public housing after figures from the Department of Housing revealed a rise in the number of children living in emergency accommodation.

The party's housing spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin TD said: "The latest figures from the Department of Housing show a dramatic increase in the number of children in emergency accommodation. In July there were 3,778 children in Department of Education funded emergency accommodation up 133 on the June figures.

"There was also an increase in the number of families with 1,721 recorded in July up 35 on the previous month. Meanwhile the total number of adults remained static at 6,497.

"For the sixth month in a row the number of people officially classified as homeless has remained above 10,000 with a total of 10,275.

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"It is important to stress that this figure excludes other categories of homeless people including women and children in domestic violence shelters funded by Tulsa, adults and children in hostels not funded by Government, rough sleepers and those trapped in Direct Provision despite having secured their leave to remain.

"We need a significant increase in investment in public housing and faster delivery time for much needed social and affordable homes."

Labour Housing spokesperson Jan O'Sullivan TD, said: "These latest figures make for grim reading and show that not only has the homelessness crisis not gone away, it is getting worse, and Government policy is failing to resolve it.

"Since June, there are 103 more children in emergency accommodation, with tragically nearly four thousand now without a place to call their home.

"The simple fact remains that the Government is still not building enough homes, which in turn continues to heap pressure on the already inflated rental sector.

"Sadly it is becoming normalised that over 10,000 people in this state are currently without a home.

"It comes as another report out today shows that a couple who are first time buyers would have to earn upwards of €100,000 between them in order to afford a new two-bed apartment in our cities."