The Housing Minister is being urged to respond to concerns over the housing and water issues in Cork.

Sinn Féin TD and spokesperson on Housing, Planning and Local Government Eoin Ó Broin called on Minister Coveney after the UN rapporteurs wrote to the government last September.

They also said there did not seem to be any free access to water.

Mr Ó Broin said: "Access to clean water is a human right and the water charges seek to commodify this essential right.

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"The rapporteurs also asked the government to state if the state's National Housing Strategy complies with the obligation to take steps to the maximum of its available resources to realise the right to housing.

"Unfortunately in this state, there is no constitutional or legally established right to housing.

"Sinn Féin and the Mercy Law Centre, amongst others, have recently called for a Right to Housing to be enshrined in the Irish Constitution.

"This right would provide those experiencing homelessness with a basic floor of protection and would ensure that state policies would reflect and respect this right.

"Minister Coveney should take the time to respond to the concerns raised by the UN rapporteurs and provide them with the information sought."

(CD/MH)