Sinn Féin MLA Mickey Brady has said that a massive house-building programme is required to address the crisis in social housing.

Mr Brady said: "There is a growing list of people in housing stress between different generations of families living together, people in hostels and those on the street while there are others in unsuitable private accommodation.

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"It is plain as the nose on your face that unless we embark on a massive house-building programme now we will never meet the demand.

"The minister has failed to fully address the long waiting list and has in fact failed to spend several millions of pounds provided by the Executive and this is unacceptable.

"This minister has spent more time trying to manipulate the waiting list in areas like North Belfast rather than addressing the barriers to providing social housing for those in dire need of a home."

(CD/JP)