Rory Hearne said Government policy has fuelled a scarcity of affordable rentals, citing a Simon Communities report that found only 20 of 1,303 properties in June were within HAP limits and none in most study areas.

The Social Democrats' housing spokesperson argued that people relying on the Housing Assistance Payment are being increasingly excluded from the private rental sector and called for stronger State-led intervention.

Deputy Hearne said: "The Simon Communities of Ireland's latest Locked Out of the Market report outlines the serious challenges faced by those who are reliant on the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP).

"It found that 1,303 properties were available to rent nationally in June, but only 20 fell within HAP limits. This is a serious lack of affordable housing options, a feature of this generation-defining housing crisis.

"Even more worryingly, no properties were available within HAP limits in 12 of the 16 study areas, including Cork City, Galway, Limerick, Waterford, Athlone, Portlaoise, Leitrim, Dundalk and Sligo.

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"This stark reality is even crueler against the backdrop of June’s homelessness figures, which saw a record-breaking 5,620 children living in emergency accommodation. It is absolutely shameful that these children are having their childhoods stolen by conditions the State has allowed to take hold and fester.

"The figures show that the Government's dependency on private rental accommodation is failing vulnerable families and individuals who are reliant on HAP. While the HAP scheme is an essential lifeline for tens of thousands of people, it is completely unrealistic to expect payment rates to keep pace with unaffordable market rents.

"Housing Minister James Browne is happy to slash supports, such as the tenant in situ scheme, but is offering little to people who cannot buy a home or find somewhere affordable to rent. For countless families, the hope of a forever home faded a long time ago.

"Instead, the Government is offering up slogans about supply without backing it up with sufficient delivery. The lack of available affordable rental properties is a direct result of Government policy, which is designed to line the pockets of investors and throw tenants to the wolves.

"The link between the affordability and homelessness crises is clear to us all – it's beyond time the Government commits to tackling the two in a meaningful way.

"The Social Democrats have put forward short, medium and long term solutions in the form of a rent freeze, eviction ban, the ramp up of delivery of affordable purchase homes and a state construction company to make a real difference for those in housing precarity.

"Government inaction, and an outlook that lacks even a modicum of ambition, cannot underpin the State's delivery of housing any longer."