Updated 10:35

The number of homeless children in Ireland has risen above 3,000 for the first time.

The latest figures from the Department of Housing show that there were 8,270 homeless people in Ireland in August – a rise of 110 from the month of July.

There were 3,048 children in emergency accommodation – up from 2973 in the previous month.

The number of homeless families also rose nationally, with 1442 families in emergency accommodation.

It means 13 new families entered homelessness in August.

Yesterday the Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy said that while the number of homeless families has risen nationally, the figure for Dublin has dropped.

Releasing the figures, the Department of Housing insisted that addressing homelessness crisis remains a priority for the government.

It said that 134 families had exited homelessness in Dublin over in August – although 102 more lost their homes during the same period.

It added that 1,800 people had exited homelessness in the first half of this year.

“The Department and local authorities will continue to work closely, quickly and proactively to identify further solutions that will work to help people and families in this very difficult situation,” said a department statement.

“An unprecedented €5.3 billion has been ring-fenced for our housing and homelessness plans out to 2021.

“Those plans are currently being reviewed in light of the experiences of the past year and more details of this will be announced shortly for debate and agreement in the Oireachtas.”

The government aims to build 47,000 new social houses by 2012.

Last Saturday, on Newstalk’s Between the Lines with Sarah McInerney, Minister Murphy said the government aims to ensure that 20% of new houses built in Ireland into the future will be reserved for social housing.