The government has come under major criticism for failing to take decisive action on child homelessness across Ireland.

This call from Labour leader Ivana Bacik comes amid discussion over the party's Homeless Families Bill published in 2017 which requires local authorities to recognise the child's interests as paramount.

Speaking as she questioned the Taoiseach in the Dáil this week, Deputy Bacik said: "We need to see a move made on this to ensure that every child in Ireland has a roof over their head.

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"Since Labour introduced this Bill, child homelessness has increased shamefully under Fine Gael and supported by Fianna Fáil. Rather than tackling homelessness and preventing families from entering emergency accommodation, Government instead seems to have accepted the dystopian reality of children sleeping in hotel rooms and hostels.

"The choices that government makes, or chooses not to make, is having a huge impact on the lives of real people. The failure of government to put in place measures to protect children are having enormous social consequences. We need to see action now.

"Finding solutions should be the priority of this Government, but instead, we hear weasel words of sympathy which are never backed up by change."