The number of people living in emergency accommodation increased again last month to 17,517, marking a rise of 209 compared to February’s total.
Data from the Department of Housing shows there were 11,946 adults and 5,571 children experiencing homelessness during the month, reports RTE.
The number of children in emergency accommodation in March went up by 114 compared to February, exceeding the increase among adults, which rose by 95.
Homeless figures first exceeded 17,000 (17,112) in January, reports RTE.
The most recent data indicates that 59.7% of adults in emergency accommodation are men, while 40.3% are women.
Irish citizens accounted for just under half of adults in emergency accommodation, totalling 5,591 or 49.8%, reports RTE.
There are 2,321 adults from the EEA/UK in emergency accommodation, representing 19.4%, while 3,674 adults, or 30.8%, are from outside the EEA.
Child homelessness has risen by 19% compared to March 2025, reports RTE.
Family homelessness has also increased by 20% (447 cases) over the past year.
Focus Ireland, which unveiled its homelessness strategy this week, has urged the Government to take more immediate action, reports RTE.
The organisation said one measure would be to ensure that more long-term homeless individuals and families are prioritised for a substantial share of available social housing.
The Simon Communities of Ireland highlighted a 17% (310) increase in homelessness among 18- to 24-year-olds over the last year, reports RTE.
The figures also reveal a 63.3% rise in the number of single adults in emergency accommodation compared to five years ago in 2021.
Simon Communities Executive Director Ber Grogan said there is no indication that the upward trend in the figures is reversing, despite monthly increases, reports RTE.
The latest report also shows that the number of people in emergency accommodation in Dublin has risen to 12,465.
CEO Catherine Kenny described the situation as “a generational crisis, with no one single cause”, reports RTE.
“We know what the solutions are, the whole sector has been urging the government with very specific asks, but the action is too slow compared to the pressures,” she said, reports RTE.
Tánaiste Simon Harris said homelessness levels are “far too high” and that “any homeless child in particular is something that cannot be accepted”.
He said the Government is delivering more social housing but has yet to see a corresponding reduction in child homelessness, reports RTE.
“We have asked all local authorities to come back and let us know how they intend to enact that part of the housing plan, reports RTE.
“Because there has to be a greater correlation between providing social housing and making progress in relation to child and family homelessness,” he said, reports RTE.
He added that he will seek updates on the issue, stressing that housing remains the most pressing domestic concern and must continue to be treated as an emergency.
Minister Harris said a dedicated action plan to address child and family homelessness is being developed and is expected to be published before the summer recess, reports RTE.
He also pointed to the growing number of people leaving direct provision centres and becoming homeless, noting a sustained increase, particularly in Dublin.
He added that stronger coordination and cooperation are needed in this area, reports RTE.
Sinn Féin housing spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin said one factor behind the ongoing rise in homelessness is the decision by Housing Minister James Browne to “slash funding” for key prevention schemes such as tenant-in-situ.
Deputy Ó Broin released analysis covering 18 local authorities, showing a 66% drop in social housing acquisitions in 2025 compared to 2024, reports RTE.
There was also a 69% fall in tenant-in-situ acquisitions.
Figures he obtained indicate that the reduction was even more severe in prevention schemes like tenant-in-situ, reports RTE.
Dublin City and Fingal saw reductions of 73%, Cork City dropped by 65%, Galway City by 73%, Waterford by 70%, and Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown by 95%.
“This means that hundreds of homes that could have been bought to prevent families becoming homeless were not purchased, reports RTE.
“As a result, many families with children were forced into homelessness unnecessarily,” he said, reports RTE.
In a statement, Deputy Ó Broin questioned why the minister would reduce funding for “a successful homeless prevention scheme, the result of which is an increase in homelessness”.
He said Minister Browne is failing to meet social and affordable housing targets while removing key protections for renters, leading to “even higher rip off rents”, reports RTE.
Labour Party housing spokesperson Conor Sheehan said it is important to recognise that these are the “worst ever recorded in the history of the State”.
He said: “I think that’s something that gets lost a lot because we’re used to the monthly, depressing vista of ever rising homelessness in this country, reports RTE.
“But it is important at the outset to remember that this is and should not be considered in any way normal for such a wealthy country, reports RTE.
“There’s 17,517 adults who are now homeless, including 5571 children and the policy decisions taken by Minister James Brown since he came into office last year have worsened this,” he said, reports RTE.
Social Democrats housing spokesperson Rory Hearne said he expects homelessness and housing to be a central issue in the Dublin Central by-election.
Speaking outside Leinster House, he said: “Dublin Central as a constituency, Gardiner Street, the northeast inner city, has a hugely disproportionate people living in emergency accommodation, reports RTE.
“The communities around there have been failed by the State, and it is going to be an issue, there’s no doubt about it, reports RTE.
“It’s coming up in the doors when we’re canvassing, people are saying, you know, in terms of homelessness, what they’re seeing, and families going in and living in absolutely inappropriate accommodation, children having to do homework on their laps, not being able to have birthday parties, not be able to have friends back, and living in completely inappropriate accommodation with huge mental health and developmental impacts,” he said, reports RTE.
Tell us your thoughts in the Facebook post and share this with your friends.
