The survey also found that almost two thirds of parents had cut back on or went without social activities for their children.

There were 1,639 families accessing emergency accommodation at the end of Quarter 1 2022, an increase of 45 families (3 per cent) on  Quarter 4 2022.

While some described a momentous day, another relative expressed concern at the impact on her family of reliving the atrocity.

The double child benefit payment will cost the state a total of €170 million.

In an episode aired on Channel 5 titled Families, Penny the polar bear introduced her two mothers to her classmates.

The latest figures by the Department of Housing, Heritage and Local Government, show the number of people in emergency homeless accommodation has risen for the sixth consecutive month.

Two men plunged to their deaths in the River Shannon after a safety mechanism on a crane failed to operate

Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys confirmed the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance (BSCFA) will be paid to 124,000 families, in respect of 220,000 children, from this morning.

The highest number was in March 2017 when the number of families in commercial hotels reached 871.