The leader of the Social Democrats has called for the immediate introduction a no-fault eviction ban, saying that 4,316 children are now in emergency accommodation but the Government appears to be numb to the appalling damage being done to them.

Holly Cairns said the number of children in emergency accommodation has increased by 63% since the Government took office.

Speaking during Leaders' Questions in the Dáil, she said there is an enormous body of scientific work which proves homelessness is disastrous for the health and well-being of children, adding one that found 40% of such children have clinical mental health or behaviourly difficulties.

The Corth South West TD said problems include rickets, faltering growth, extreme tooth decay, and extreme skin complaints.

Such over-crowded noisy accommodation leads to children being at risk of becoming non-verbal, and suffering from bed wetting and not being able to sleep, Ms Cairns said.

Renewing her call for a no-fault eviction ban, she said the new Labour government in the UK has said it will introduce such a ban, and she asked the Tánaiste to explain why Ireland is one of the few countries that refuses to follow suit.

In reply, Tánaiste Micheál Martin said such a ban would make things worse because it would reduce the number of rental properties and increase homelessness.

He said increasing supply was the solution as we need to expand the number of rental properties rather than depress it.

The Tánaiste said there were additional difficulties - such as growing numbers of people entering Ireland from Europe seeking emergency accommodation.

He said he recognised that nothing could be more advantageous than a home, and noted the Government had delivered 110,000 new homes since it came into office.

The Government was preventing more families from entering homelessness while, at the same time, ensuring families exit faster than had been the case before, Mr Martin said.

Thee Department of Housing, working with Local Authorities, had delivered 2,000 extra beds in 2023, he added, and told the Dáil that 654 households exited emergency accommodation in the first quarter of this year, up 7.2% on last year.

Mr Martin said the Government had provided very substantial funding for supports, and delivered 12,000 social homes as well.