The Special Rapporteur for Child Protection has called on the state to tackle the housing crisis and has said that an "unacceptable" number of children are being housed in emergency accommodation.
In his annual report for 2015, Geoffrey Shannon says homelessness should be adequately dealt with and that more social housing units should be built.
He also says more needs to be done to address apparent violations of UN laws concerning traveller children, asylum seeking children, those in direct provision and those with mental health difficulties.
Reacting to the report, the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children said it suggested that the placement of homeless children in unsuitable emergency accommodation is a breach of their rights under international law.
