A special Government Committee set up to tackle the homeless crisis wants 50,000 new social housing units built over the next four years.

The idea is just one of a list of recommendations from the Oireachtas Committee on Housing and Homelessness due to be published in full later this morning.

The report is also due to outline measures to help those who are already homeless. A total of 23 priority recommendations and longer term measures are due to be issued.

The committee will recommend the building of 50,000 new social housing units by local authorities by 2020.

They also think we should fast-track the planning process for social housing, from eight to six weeks, and want the Housing Minister Simon Coveney to consider the establishment of a housing procurement agency, with staff from NAMA, the Department of Housing and the Department of Fiance.

The committee has suggested rent certainty by linking rent reviews to the consumer price index, and protecting people from evictions whereby housing associations can purchase a rental property from distressed homeowners.

Some families are paying up to €17,000 a year in rent.

A moratorium on home repossessions could also be introduced.