The number of people homeless and living in emergency accommodation has climbed slightly to another record high and now stands at 15,418.
The figures, which relate to March, include 4,675 children who are homeless.
According to the data published by the Department of Housing, there was an increase of 40 people accessing emergency accommodation last month when compared to February.
The 15,418 figure also represents a 10% yearly increase on March 2024.
The number of children who are homeless has risen by 11% for the same period.
The report shows the majority of adults in emergency accommodation are aged between 25 and 44, with 5,742 people in this age bracket.
It also found a total of 1,798 people are aged between 18 and 24 years, 2,969 people are aged between 45 and 64, and 234 people are aged 65 or above.
A total of 11,024 adults and children were living in emergency accommodation in Dublin last month, up 76 from 10,948 in February.
Outside of Dublin, counties Kildare, Meath and Wicklow in the mid-east of the country and Galway, Mayo and Roscommon in the west were the regions where the highest number of families accessing emergency accommodation were recorded.
Overall, 2,212 families are living in emergency accommodation nationwide.
The report also shows that during the first quarter of the year, a total of 796 adults exited emergency accommodation by way of a tenancy being created, with a further 850 prevented from entering emergency accommodation in the first instance.
The Department of Housing's official homelessness figures are published on a monthly basis and refer to the number of homeless persons accommodated in emergency accommodation funded and overseen by housing authorities during a specific count week.
The figures do not account for those sleeping rough, refugees, asylum seekers, individuals in domestic violence shelters, or those in hidden homelessness such as people sleeping in cars, on couches, or in unsuitable living conditions.
Figures directly related to Govt missing social housing targets - Focus Ireland
Focus Ireland's CEO has said that today’s homeless figures are directly related to the Government failing to meet its target for new social housing.
Pat Dennigan added that the figures are also related to the Government’s earlier announcement that a key homeless prevention programme had closed for the year due to budget cuts.
"For years Focus Ireland has been arguing that homelessness is not inevitable but is a consequence of the policies in place - and could be solved with better policies," he said.
Mr Dennigan added: "We could not have a clearer demonstration of this than today’s figures.
"The Government fell nearly 1,500 homes short of its 9,300 social housing target last year because it chose to choke off momentum in the approved housing sector by not signing off on funding for pipeline projects.
"Similarly, budget restrictions in the Tenant in Situ Scheme, which successfully prevents homelessness when landlords decide to sell up, will inevitability result in people becoming homeless who would otherwise have remained securely housed," he said.
"Increases in homelessness are the predictable consequence of the choices the Government is making and the policies it is choosing. We have a new Minister, now we need new policies," Mr Dennigan said.
He added: "The human consequence of these policy decisions is that, as schools reopen this Monday after the Easter break, 4675 children will be facing the daily reality of life in emergency accommodation - many without a quiet space to do their homework or simply be children.
"This distressing situation is a stark indictment of our homeless crisis, and we must not lose sight of the fact that it is entirely preventable.
"If the Government had continued to fund the Tenant in Situ Scheme homeless prevention scheme we would have seen homelessness fall this month."
Dundalk Simon Community CEO Catherine Kenny said that the figures only tell part of the story when it comes to homelessness.
"Emergency accommodation is limited. Beds are full or near capacity. People can only access it when someone else leaves or a new space opens up.
"That means this staggering figure isn’t rising in line with need - it’s capped by space, not by demand," she said.
Ms Kenny added: "In other words, many more are left to rough sleep or live in unsafe and unsuitable conditions in hidden homelessness.
"We have a crisis that should shock the conscience of the country and especially of those who run it.
"When the number of people living in emergency shelters matches the population of a whole town, something is deeply broken. We must not allow ourselves to normalise this level of human suffering," she said.
"What we need to see is sufficient funding for the housing and health solutions that will help people exit homelessness and prevent them from facing it in the first place," she added.
"Given the recent upending of international trade arrangements, it is now even more important to invest in housing infrastructure that can be safeguarded from the volatility of the global economy."
