The number of homeless people in Dublin has increased by 35% in the last year, according to new figures.

New statistics from the Dublin Region Homeless Executive show there were 5,146 adults and children in emergency accommodation last month.

Focus Ireland says 67 families became newly homeless in the city in October.

There were 1,026 homeless families in homeless accommodation including hotels – a 45% increase on last year. The number of children has more than doubled from 916 to 2,110 in Dublin during this time.

The charity says there are now five times more homeless adults and children than two years ago.

Mike Allen, Focus Ireland Director of Advocacy said: “It is terrible to see that during the last year the number of children who are homeless and living in emergency accommodation has more than doubled from 916 to 2,110.

“Christmas should be one of the happiest times of year for children and their families.

“However, it truly awful to realise that over 2,500 children will be homeless on Christmas day this year. This is wrong and it is totally unacceptable.

Mr Allen went on to highlight that in a time of such crisis it can be hard to remember that the situation could be much worse as he said: “We are proud to say that the first 10 months of the year, Focus Ireland has supported 230 families (with 450 children) to move out of homelessness into secure homes (in partnership with the DRHE and local authorities).

“However, as at least two families are still becoming homeless every single day the crisis continues to deepen.”