The Government has been slammed over its lack of investment in housing.

Sinn Féin has accused the Govt of providing "meaningless cuts" to the Universal Social Charge (USC) instead of providing more funding for homes.

Housing Spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin said the housing measures contained in Budget 2017 are an affront to families in desperate need of social housing.

He said: "Capital spending on social housing remains less than half what it was in 2008.

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"€150m extra is not only insufficient – it is an affront to those families, especially homeless families, in desperate need of social housing.

"The Minister will claim that Government simply does not have the money and that this is the best he can do.

"Sinn Féin has shown in our alternative budget that it is possible to increase capital spending by as much as €491m in 2017.

"We would double the proposed increase in the allocation to local authorities.

"We would restore the Traveller Accommodation budget to its 2008 levels.

"We would double the allocation to the Housing Agency for purchasing vacant units.

"And in addition to this, by facilitating a modest investment of funds available from the Irish League of Credit unions we would unlock an additional €360m off balance sheet.

"You're Government is choosing to fritter it away on meaningless UCS cuts rather than investing it in housing."

(CD/MH)