The Government has lost a Dáil vote on a motion calling for the housing crisis to be declared an emergency and rent controls to be introduced.
A motion from People Before Profit calling for the declaration passed in the Dáil today.
It managed to secure the support of all opposition parties, with 83 votes in favour to 43 against.
Resounding YES to emergency housing motion introduced by Richard Boyd Barrett yesterday. This is serious indictment FG housing policy-we need immediate change to build houses, stop evictions and introduce rent controls. #RaiseTheRoof #TakeBackTheCity pic.twitter.com/956C5gfLc6
— People Before Profit (@pb4p) October 4, 2018
While the vote does not mean an emergency will be declared, it increases pressure on the Government to act.
The bill also calls for the amount spent on housing to be doubled - and "aggressive measures" to bring vacant properties back into use.
It also comes a day after thousands gathered at a protest in Dublin, calling for a radical change in the Government's approach to the housing and homeless crisis.
Earlier, Sinn Féin said declaring the crisis a national emergency would be a first step.
The party's housing spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin said the Government should take measures “such as doubling capital investment in social and affordable housing, taking emergency measures to reduce the flow of families into homelessness and to reduce the cost of renting."