Fianna Fail has hit out at Housing Minister Simon Coveney over his plan for building social housing units in Galway.

TD for Galway West Éamon Ó Cuív described his proposal as "completely inadequate".

Figures released to Deputy Ó Cuív revealed that only 14 houses are due to be built this year, with a further 55 earmarked for construction in 2018.

He said: "Minister Coveney appears to be paralysed when it comes to adopting meaningful solutions to this spiralling crisis, which is fast becoming an emergency. It's time the Minister revised his plans and started meeting the demand for units.

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"Every week, my office is contacted by families heartbroken by the situations they find themselves in. We have been in crisis mode with regard to housing provision for a number of years now and the situation appears to be getting worse, not better.

"Government policies forcing people to migrate from rural areas to larger towns and cities are exacerbating the problem. A lack of investment in transport infrastructure and reduced public transport links means people have to move into the city where accommodation is scarce and prices are higher.

"A whole of Government approach is needed to tackle this issue – not just one Department. If transport services were improved, people would have the option of living in some of the suburban areas, thereby freeing up units in the city centre. The current plan completely fails to incorporate basic living requirements, and appears to be more focused on glossy documents and PR launches than the delivery of housing for families across the city."

(CD/MH)