Homeless figures have risen again according to latest data from the Department of Housing.
A total of 14,760 people were in emergency accommodation in September.
It is a rise of 274 (1.9%) on the previous month.
In September, 4,561 of those in emergency accommodation were children.
August saw an increase of 57 people who accessed emergency accommodation, however, the figure leapt last month by 274.
Overall, it is a rise of 15% in 12 months.
Dublin Simon Community described it as "a worrying time" because the demand on homeless services will intensify in the lead-up to winter.
The latest figures mean, the number of people in emergency accommodation is once again at an all-time high.
Executive Director of the Simon Communities Wayne Stanley said they would likely be the last figures released before a general election is called.
"If we are to turn the corner on homelessness, the next Government has to take a proactive approach, and they have to be ambitious and genuinely committed to working toward ending homelessness by 2030," he said.
Minister for Housing Darragh O'Brien has described the latest figures as disappointing and a matter of concern.
However, he said he would not accept the figures represented a failure by him or by the Government to get on top of the situation.
Speaking in Cork, Mr O'Brien said the figures showed there were grounds for optimism in relation to the number of people being prevented from being homeless and those exiting homelessness.
"We are seeing another increase in those in emergency accommodation. That is a matter for concern for me, certainly," Mr O'Brien said. "It just shows how complex this matter is."
He said he would now re-double efforts in relation to people exiting homelessness, adding that homelessness was the number one priority for the Government and for him as minister.
He said figures for the final quarter of the year would be really important, "because we are going to have very strong housing delivery".
Emergency accommodation system 'broken' - SF
The emergency accommodation system across the state is "at breaking point" according to Sinn Féin's Housing Spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin.
He said homeless service providers were struggling to cope with "the month on month rises in people losing their homes".
Mr Ó Broin called on the Government to immediately reintroduce the temporary ban on evictions to avoid homelessness hitting 15,000 before the end of the year.
The Social Democrats party spokesperson on housing Cian O'Callaghan said there was a "depressing familiarity" with the homeless record being broken.
He pointed out that there has been rise of 72% in the number of children in emergency accommodation, since the Government took office.
"Out of the 52 monthly homeless reports during this Government's tenure, homelessness has increased 41 times and a new record has been set 23 times."
'Nothing short of a national crisis' - Labour
Labour has demanded "urgent action" following the latest homeless figures.
The party's leader Ivana Bacik described 4,561 children growing up without a place to call home in Ireland as "nothing short of a national crisis".
"It is simply unacceptable, and it speaks to a Government that has consistently failed to deliver on its promises," she said.
Focus Ireland said the current Government had failed to use the progress in building social homes into opportunities for families to exit homelessness.
It added that the immediate first step of any new government is to reform social housing allocation to give "a fair share of opportunities to the most vulnerable".
CEO Pat Dennigan said the Government seemed to have concluded with the continuous rise in homelessness, that it's a problem that cannot be solved.
He pointed out that homelessness was not referred to in the main budget speeches, however, he said there was plenty of evidence that policies could make a difference.
"Homelessness is a solvable problem," Mr Dennigan said.
