The Department of Housing has been accused of failing to refurbish almost 1,500 housing units in Ireland.

Fianna Fáil has obtained new information which reveals around 1,449 units are vacant throughout the country.

Spokesperson on Housing, Planning and Local Government Barry Cowen TD has called on the Department to "wake up" and to get the units back into use "urgently".

He said: "Minister Coveney has said that he is satisfied that the €24m allocated to refurbishing vacant units is adequate. However it is clear that his department is providing refurbishment funding for less than 50% of the vacant units that have been identified to date.

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"It is also important to note that the Department of Housing is actually spending €9m less on refurbishing vacant properties as compared to 2015, despite the existence of so many vacant units.

"Minister Coveney needs to explain why refurbishing funding has not been allocated for 1,449 vacant units in the midst of a homelessness crisis. These units represent the 'low hanging fruit' of housing supply, which could be turned around quickly with a clearer strategy and direction from the Minister.

"The Department needs to wake up and get all these units back to use as a matter of urgency."

(CD/LM)