A Wicklow general election candidate has shared a shocking picture showing the cramped conditions in which a young family sleeps as the housing crisis grips Ireland.
Sinn Fein's John Brady said three generations of the same family cram into a box room, which contains a bunk bed, a double bed and a cot.
He blasted the Government and pointed out that the family's living conditions aren't "an isolated incident" in his native county, Dublin Live reports.
Posting the picture on Facebook, he said: "The official homeless figure is 10,448, whilst this figure is shocking and disgraceful, it’s only the tip of the iceberg.
"The picture is of the box room which a family live in, it's in their parents' home.
"There are three generations living under the one roof.
"Mam and dad sleep on the bottom bunk, one child on the top, and the cot is at the end of the bed.
"The family are at breaking point. This is not an isolated case, it’s unfortunately happening right across Wicklow.
"People lingering for years on housing lists. Can’t afford to rent privately.
"Slightly above the income threshold to qualify for social housing, but not enough to rent or purchase their own home. Impossible to find HAP or RAS properties.
"These people aren’t even statistics in the eyes of this government.
"They are the hidden homeless, they are the sofa surfers.
"They are real people, families forced to move home to parents or friends because they have no alternative.
"There is a housing and homeless crisis and we need real action to address it. Something that will never happen under the political parties that made this crisis."
