A new all-party committee to look at how to deal with the housing and the homelessness crisis has been established by the Dáil.

TDs are also making statements on housing tonight, saying there is an urgent need to find a fix.

Acting Environment Minister Alan Kelly says 31 actions were taken in the last 21 months, and he says no matter what is done now won’t fix the problem overnight.

Mr Kelly said: “I’ve sought to tackle this issue from every possible angle to improve the situation for everyone in this country.

“It has absolutely been my priority during my short term in the Department of the Environment.

“But the fruits of that work will take time to become apparent. We have laid the foundations, but the solutions will, like any house, take time to build and to bring forward.”