Updated 11.55

The Children’s Minister says she’s horrified and deeply disturbed that a woman and her three children have been forced to live in a car, because they have no accommodation.

Sabrina McMahon (36) and her three children, aged 5, 3 and 18 months, have been told they will have to wait nine years for social housing.

The mother moved back to Tallaght in south Dublin from Athy, Co. Kildare after her relationship with the childrens' father broke down over a year ago. Sabrina has previously stayed with family and friends.

The Children’s Minister Frances Fitzgerald says she wants a system that responds to children and mothers in this situation:

Sabrina has said she can't get any private landlord to accept rent allowance.

Meanwhile, a councillor who's been in contact with the McMahon family says that since the case came to public attention this morning, a hotel has offered to put them up for a week for free.
Sinn Féin Cllr Máire Devine told Newstalk's Pat Kenny she is due to meet Sabrina in a car park today to discuss her options, after she was asked to approach Kildare County Council regarding emergency accommodation:

Kitty Holland spoke to Newstalk's Breakfast about meeting Sabrina yesterday: 

Sabrina is a trained dental nurse, who has also worked as a carer. She is not working at the moment, but would like to be.

South Dublin County Council says that it is aware of her case.