The European Commission (EC) has been accused of blocking funding for social housing in Dublin.

The claim was made at the European Capitals Mayors conference in Amsterdam.

Cllr Daithí Doolan, Chair of Dublin City Council's housing committee, said the EC is working on limiting the ability of cities, like Dublin, to deal with the housing crisis.

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He said: "Dublin wants to work with the capital cities of Europe in demanding a derogation from the EU Commission to allow Dublin City Council access funding to build social and affordable housing. Current EU regulations only serve to strait jacket local authorities and denies us the ability to borrow essential funds for housing.

"Dublin city has land zoned for over 50,000 homes. These land banks lie derelict while over 1,500 Dublin children remain homeless. It is unacceptable that 28,000 families languish on the city's housing list while land remains empty."

(CD/MH)