Waterford is in the midst of a housing emergency, according to Fianna Fáil.

There are currently 3,460 households on the social housing waiting list, a 36 per cent increase since September 2015.

Fianna Fáil TD for Waterford Mary Butler has called on Waterford City and County Council to introduce a new system for allocating housing.

She said: "Choice Based Lettings is a new method of housing allocation which is widely used in other countries such as the United Kingdom. It allows people to register their interest in a new housing vacancy in a specific locality. The new allocation system helps to reduce the number of vacant properties and helps match people to the housing which is most suitable to them.

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"Under the new scheme housing vacancies that come about in specific areas will be advertised in the media. People can then register their interest in these vacancies with the council. If a number of people express an interest in a property then the final offer will be made to the applicant who is currently placed highest on the housing waiting list.

"This new system is a fair and practical way of allocating housing. No one is forced into a home which they are not happy with, and people’s positioning on the housing waiting list is respected. Importantly it helps to reduce the number of vacant council properties and will help address the ongoing housing emergency."