According to new figures, there has been a 55% increase in the number of homeless families around the country since the beginning of the new year.

The statistics, which were published by the Department of the Environment, indicate that the number of individuals availing of emergency accommodation stands at 3,258.

Worryingly, the reports also shows that child homelessness outside the capital is increasing at almost three times the Dublin rate.

Commenting on the figures, Bill Griffin, CEO of Galway Simon Community, said "These self-referrals are coming from people who are, if you like, becoming victims of the turnaround in the country, in that rent levels are on the rise all the time in Galway city - and unfortunately the rent supplement levels are not keeping pace with them."

Wth the number of children in emergency accommodation increasing by 52%, the Taoiseach has come under fire from Sinn Féin president, Gerry Adams.

Commenting on the troublesome report, Mr. Adams said: "It is not good enough for An Taoiseach to say that no family should be in temporary accommodation while he leads a government that stood over increased homelessness."

Elaborating further still, he continued: "Homelessness can be prevented and ended, but it will take investment and political will not the platitudes offered today by the Taoiseach."

According to Mr. Griffin, the situation is likely to worsen as students flood the city at the beginning of the university term.

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