The number of homeless children has risen by 571 in the past year. A total of 2,895 were homeless in June, a rise of 118 from a month earlier, according to figures from the Department of Housing. The number of homeless adults increased by 124 to 5,046 in June.
Simon Coveney, the former housing minister, had promised to take all homeless families out of hotels and B&Bs by July. Eoghan Murphy, his successor, conceded in June that this target would not be met and that 647 homeless families remained in commercial hotels and B&Bs. There were a total of 1,365 homeless families in June, an increase of 53 on the month before.
The Department of Housing said that the long-term solution was to increase the supply of new homes. “Rebuilding Ireland is designed to accelerate all types of housing supply — social, private and rental,” it said.
Eoin O’Broin, the Sinn Féin housing spokesman, claimed that the release of the figures late on a Friday afternoon was an attempt to “bury bad news”.