Sinn Féin housing spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin TD has warned that government housing policy is directly contributing to record levels of homelessness following the publication of the Department of Housing's November homeless report.

The Dublin Mid West representative said the latest figures show a sharp year-on-year increase in people living without stable accommodation, including significant rises among children and pensioners.

Responding to the report, Teachta Ó Broin said: "The Department of Housing has released their homeless report for November. It shows that 16,996 people including 5,321 children were officially recognised as homelessness in that month. This is an increase of 11% over the last 12 months, with child homelessness up 14% and pensioner homelessness by 13.6% on last November.

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"It is clear that government housing policy is driving record increases in homelessness. Their social and affordable housing targets are too low and are being missed year on year. There is no homeless prevention strategy in place. Funding for vital homeless prevention schemes such as tenant-in-situ have been cut. And the new tender for the Dublin housing first programme continues to be delayed.

"Without a radical reset of housing policy, including an emergency package of measures to reduce and end homelessness, as proposed by Sinn Féin and others, then this crisis will only get worse in 2026."

The Department of Housing has yet to respond to Ó Broin’s comments.