The government has lifted the eviction ban introduced to support renters nationwide.

This comes after the latest homelessness figures revealed 11,742 people were living in emergency accommodation across the State.

Labour leader Ivana Bacik has condemned the government's decision to lift the eviction ban.

Deputy Bacik said: "Government has lost control of the housing market. With record levels of GDP, everyone should have a home and a roof over their heads. It is a fundamental right that this Government has failed to deliver on.

"There is no evidence underpinning the decision to lift the eviction ban tomorrow, and given the sustained high levels of homelessness revealed in the statistics published today, I would imagine that many in Government are wondering if they have confidence in the approach taken to lift the eviction ban.

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"Even at the 11th hour, the cobbled together plans to protect renters aren't in place. The Government's panacea of a first refusal option for renters is doomed to fail. As responses to Parliamentary Questions put down by me reveal, Government has no plan in place for this measure and, even if they did, the majority of renters are simply not in a position to purchase a home given the astronomical rents they are being charged.

"The thing that seems to be lost on this Government is the heightened sense of insecurity and uncertainty that the lifting of the eviction ban has brought. People can't make decisions about themselves, for their lives and for their families. People are putting off things like starting a family because they don't know where they will be living next week. People are genuinely fearful that if they are evicted, there will be nowhere for them to go. Analysis across Daft.ie shows a dearth of rental supply nationwide.

"My fear is that the flood gates will open this weekend, with renters served so called 'no fault' eviction notices which will drive many into homelessness. It is a damning indictment of this conservative coalition that people who work hard their whole lives are simply given no chance due to the housing catastrophe they're living through.

"Labour would gladly facilitate an extended Dáil sitting to keep people in their homes and prevent the tsunami of evictions likely to take place in the weeks and months ahead."