The number of people homeless in Ireland has exceeded 17,000 for the first time with fears even more could lose their homes after the Government’s new rental rules kick in on Sunday. The latest monthly figures from the Department of Housing show there were 17,112 people in emergency accommodation in January, with 11,793 adults and 5,319 children, which is a new record high. The figure includes 2,555 families, of which 1,442 are single-parent families. It comes after the monthly numbers dipped sl