Sinn Féin Housing spokesperson Dessie Ellis has condemned the slow pace of delivery of promised social housing from NAMA stock.

He made his comments in light of a response by the Department of Environment to a Sinn Féin Dáil question, which stated that after more than three years of NAMA only 263 units of a promised 3,949 have been delivered.

Deputy Ellis said: "We have the highest level of housing need this state has ever seen with nearly 100,000 on waiting lists yet the delivery of this housing is allowed to be slowed to a snail’s pace. The government needs to take action to ensure speedy delivery.

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"For the 263 families who might soon be housed by this initiative it is very welcome but this is not enough. Some 3,949 units were promised. At this pace it will take another four and a half years to deliver just 2000 units.

"We have been promised a social dividend from NAMA since its foundation over three years ago but no real dividend has been achieved and what has been offered is coming too slow at too great a price to be of any significant benefit.

"These units are to be leased from bailed out developers and will return to their control when the lease runs out, requiring refurbishment at the state's expense."

(CD/MH)