There are 206 people homeless in Louth and 294 in Meath, the latest figures from the Dept of Housing have revealed.
They are among a record 15,915 nationally who have nowhere to live and are classified as homeless.
The figure released last Friday for the last full week in June is 11pc higher than last year and comes at a time when the number of new housing start ups are in decline.
It also includes 4,958 children who are currently growing up in hotels and B&Bs.
But the figure does not include people who are regarded as the hidden homeless – rough sleepers, women in refuge centres, asylum seekers, and refugees.
The majority of people in emergency accomodation are in the 25 to 44 year old age bracket.
Erene Williamson, the Salvation Army’s Homeless Service Ireland lead said:” Part of a normal childhood involves inviting friends to your home, playdates and sleepovers.
“But these things that so many of us take for granted are not enjoyed by children in emergency accomodation.”
Sinn Fein’s Housing Spokesman Eoin O’Broin said government failures were normalising homelessness.
He stated:” We need funding for vital homeless prevention schemes like tenant-in-situ restored and increased. Without an emergency response from the Government the homeless numbers will continue to rise.”
The Government had set a target to build 41,000 new homes in 2025 but it is now estimated that a maximum of 33,000 will be built.
A total of 30,230 new homes were delivered last year, a 7pc drop on 2023.
