There was been a steady increase in homelessness for single people, families and children during 2021, according to a new report.

The latest Dublin Regional Homeless Executive Homelessness Report revealed a dramatic drop off in exits from homelessness compared to 2019 and 2020 and a very high level of long term homelessness..

Sinn Féin spokesperson on Housing Eoin Ó Broin TD said the figures show "very worrying trends which demand urgent attention".

He said: "Throughout 2021 adult, child and family homelessness increased, particularly after Minister for Housing Darragh O'Brien ended the Covid-19 ban on evictions.

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"Most alarming is the dramatic drop off in exits of people out of homelessness. The report states that in 2019 the average monthly number of exits from emergency accommodation was 141. In 2020 the number was 186.

"Last year, the number of people leaving emergency accommodation each month averaged just 58, and in December it was 46.

"Given that the number of Notices to Quit and evictions is rising, if the low level of exits continues it will result in a significant increase in the number of people experiencing homelessness this year.

"The report also shows that at the end of last year 20% of both single people and families were in emergency accommodation more than two years. Many of these people have been homeless for three and in some cases four years.

"No person should be in emergency accommodation for longer than six months. To achieve this, the government must dramatically increase the delivery of social housing and housing first tenancies."