The Government's long-awaited National Housing Plan is expected to be published on Thursday morning, and provide the overall framework for housing over the next five years and beyond.
It is understood that Housing Minister James Browne will place a big focus on ending child and family homelessness, including a plan to inject more than €100 million next year to house families who are on the housing list the longest.
Last week he declared: "I am going to end the housing crisis in my term and I believe that can be done."
However, a total of 16,614 people were living in emergency accommodation in September, according to the latest figures from the Department of Housing, including a record 5,238 children.
The Housing Plan, which is months overdue, is also expected to send out a signal of a stable policy landscape, and it is hoped this will contribute to increased private sector investment in homes and apartments.
It is likely to include an expanded the role and the remit for the State's Land Development Agency to deliver more starter homes.
It is also anticipated that the Housing Plan will include much greater use of compulsory purchase orders by local authorities to deal with derelict properties.
Other expected commitments include a target that 20,000 homes will be brought back into use supported by the Vacant Refurbishment Grant, and an Expert Advice Grant to support bringing more homes and vacant shop spaces back to into use as homes.
It is anticipated the Housing Plan will be considered by the Cabinet's Housing Committee tomorrow; evaluated by the full Cabinet on Wednesday; and then published on Thursday morning.
Sinn Féin housing spokesperson Eoin O'Broin has warned that next Thursday's plan "must be more ambitious" than its predecessor - particularly when it comes to increased funding, targets and delivery of social and affordable homes.
He called for greater protections for renters from rising rents and eviction, and what he called "clear, measurable targets to end long-term homelessness by 2030".
The Dublin Mid-West deputy said the Housing Plan needed to include a suite of activation measures for small and medium enterprise builder/developers to deliver homes for workers to buy.
He said there also had to be increased staffing for both planning authorities and planning courts in order to speed-up decisions and judgements.
