"Nothing less than a reversal of these cuts will prevent future shortfalls in these vital services. We are in the midst of a crisis on homelessness, and Government action needs to reflect that. The social housing strategy, due to be published by the Government, needs to commit to the level of investment required," he said.

Earlier this year, the union welcomed the decision of Dublin City Council to reverse planned cuts of €6 million in the 2014 homelessness budget. “Our recent campaign to protect Dublin City Council homelessness budgets  was widely supported with over 100 local election candidates pledging to protect funding for the next five years. That pledge needs to be met with a commitment from central government," said Joe.

IMPACT assistant general secretary Ashley Connolly said housing provision should top the Government’s priorities for the remainder of its term. “To meet the commendable objective of eradicating homelessness by 2016, we need to commit to a substantial programme of investment in social housing to meet current demand and prevent against future crises of the scale we are witnessing now," she said.

The latest IMPACT intervention follows a report that Dublin City Council has sought over €25 million from the Department of the Environment to increase housing stock. This would see over 1,300 extra dwellings being allocated to homeless families between now and 2016.