A new record of 9,104 people were homeless in this country last month.
The January figures released by the Department of Housing show that 3,267 of those in emergency accommodation were children.
The number is up by 517 on December's figure - meaning a 6% increase in one month alone.
January figures for emergency accommodation in Dublin: 3919 adults, 2509 children & 1191 families. 75% of #homeless population is condensed in Dublin, Wicklow, Kildare & Meath. https://t.co/K3qWpdar0N #beastfromtheast
— Dublin Simon (@Dublin_Simon) February 27, 2018
Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy that the increase in the number of homeless families compared to December was unexpected - up to 1,517, compared to 1,408 last month.
He said: "The numbers are not back to the high of November and the rate of increase of family homelessness has stabilised to a large extent over the past year.
"However, the extent of the increase in January was not anticipated and, following a meeting with the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive, I have requested that they investigate the matter further and prepare a detailed report for review."
Focus Ireland said the Government was 'dramatically failing' to tackle the housing & homelessness crisis.
The latest homeless figures show a shocking rise of 6% in one month alone from 8,587 men, women and children in December to 9,104 in January 2018. One child became homeless every 3.5 hours last month. The Government is dramatically failing to do enough to ease the crisis.
— Focus Ireland (@FocusIreland) February 27, 2018
The latest figures come as people are being encouraged to report rough sleepers to their local authority during the snow and ice warnings this week.
