Sinn Féin has hit out at Housing Minister Simon Coveney over his "failing" Housing Action Plan.

The party made the announcement after the Department of Housing revealed that only 2,192 'real' social houses were added to the Approved Housing Stock in 2016.

Housing spokesperson Deputy Ó Broin said the Minister's plan lack the necessary funding to deliver the targets over the next six years.

He said: "Minister Coveney's Housing Action Plan promises to deliver 47,000 social houses over six years or on average almost 8,000 units a year. His plan builds on similar targets launched by his predecessor Alan Kelly in 2014.

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"There are a significant number of Council housing projects stuck in his Departments cumbersome approval and tendering process. The progress of Rapid Build projects is also similarly delayed. There are also thousands of vacant units available for purchase.

"While I welcome the return of 2,300 long term voids into active use they still only bring the total increase in new social tenancies to 4,492. This means that 75% of the Ministers so called 'social housing solutions' are in fact private sector units leased for 2 years under the Housing Assistance Scheme, 4 years under the Rental Accommodation or 10 years plus under the Leasing Scheme.

"The vast majority of these are HAP leases which do not provide families with security of tenure and do not assist in building secure and sustainable communities.

"Without significant improvement in the approval and tendering process for new builds and significant increase in funds for new builds and purchases Minister Coveney's plan will continue to fail those in greatest need of housing."

(CD/JP)