Sinn Fein has called on the Minister for Housing to introduce legislation that will ensure where semi-state commercial land is being sold off for residential use, a special minimum rate of 30% social housing must be included.

Housing spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin TD made the call to Minister Simon Coveney after Savills announced the sale of a portion of the RTE campus in Donnybrook, Dublin.

He also said the Minister could make the change "immediate" through a minor amendment to the Planning and Development Act.

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Deputy Ó Broin said: "It further states that the site is an opportunity to develop a mid to high-end housing scheme of up to 500 units comprising of a mix of apartments and houses.

"I believe that given the lack of affordable housing in Dublin City and the length of the social housing waiting lists that there is a better way to use this state land.

"The current provision of up to 10% social housing is not sufficient to meet the level of housing need in the city. The Government must step up and use every tool at its disposal in order to increase the level of social and affordable housing units. Stated government housing policy is to achieve a greater tenure and income mix in private housing estates.

"By legislating to ensure that a minimum of 150 of the proposed 500 units rather than 50 of the units are used for social housing would be an ideal way to demonstrate the Government's commitment to this policy."

(CD/LM)