New figures have revealed Dublin's social housing stock has declined by nearly 2,000 units over the last 11 years.

With numbers falling from 27,110 in 2005 to 25,274 in 2016, Sinn Féin Councillor Daithí Doolan has called on Housing Minister Simon Coveney to "stop spinning yarns" and commit to championing social housing at the cabinet table.

"Our housing stock has shrank from 27,110 in 2005 to 25,274 in 2016. This is shocking news at a time of a housing crisis," Councillor Doolan said. "The figures were released to me at tonight's city council meeting. Dublin City faces an unprecedented and deepening homeless crisis. The crisis is a direct result of the lack of social housing.

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"For the first time over 1,000 families are now homeless in Dublin. Yet we are losing the very housing stock needed to accommodate these families."

Councillor Doolan added that over 20 sites in Dublin are waiting to be developed for housing, however Government funding has been "pitiful and slow in coming".

"Minister Coveney continues to huff and puff about a miserable €280,000 increase in funding," he said. "The Minister has allocated €2.28b for housing between 2014 to 2016. Compared to the €2b allocated during the Troika years of 2011 and 2013, it clearly shows the crisis in social housing is not a priority for this Government.

"Dublin City Council has the land and the plans for social housing. We have 20 sites under investigation for housing. We urgently need the funding to turn the tide in this crisis."

(LM)