There are currently over 5,000 vacant housing units in Co Louth, according to new data.

The preliminary 2016 census results show that there are a total of 5,005 vacant units in the area alone.

Fianna TD for Louth and Meath East Declan Breathnach is urging the Housing Minister, Simon Coveney, to examine if any of the houses could be used by the local authority for social housing.

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He said: "In January 1992 and again in 2015 I brought a motion to Louth County Council with fellow Councillor Peter Savage to help facilitate this. The plan involved financing the refurbishment of the vacant units to a habitable condition which would cost far less than the building of new units.

"The plan would see the introduction of a graduated grant scheme which would be available to the owners of these units to carry out the necessary works. The grants would be available in varying degrees in return for the houses being leased to the Council for social housing."

(CD/MH)