A 'Discussion paper on Ireland's housing crisis' has been launched by SIPTU.

The paper sets out a four year plan to deal with the shortage of adequate social housing in the State.

The union's General President, Jack O'Connor, said: "We propose that the task of resolving the housing crisis over the period between now and 2019 should be embraced as the major societal project in the context of commemorating the centenary of 1916.

-- Advertisement --

"We urge the parties in the Government and indeed all of the political parties represented in the Oireachtas to provide the leadership to promote the task of resolving the housing crisis within the timeframe envisaged."

The plan is based around the provision of 25,000 social housing units over the four year period 2015 to 2018 while generating 65,000 jobs at an overall estimated cost of €3.7 billion.