The number of new homes built in 2016 is lower than the Department of Housing claims, according to new figures via Freedom of Information.

Sinn Féin spokesperson on Housing Eoin Ó Broin TD has called on Minister Simon Coveney to "come clean on new build housing figures".

Deputy Ó Broin said: "Minister Coveney has claimed that 14,932 new houses were built in 2016. When one-off housing is removed, this means that 8,729 new estate houses were delivered into the market last year.

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"Doubt has been cast over these figures for some time by industry and academic experts. At the centre of the controversy is the use of ESB connection figures by the Department.

"ESB connection figures include both new builds and properties reconnected to the network after two years without supply. The Department has repeatedly said that the figures are a good estimate of the number of new houses delivered.

"However, figures secured via Freedom of Information by Architect Mel Reynolds and DIT lecturer Lorcan Sirr from the Local Government Management Association suggest that the number of new build estate houses could be as low as 848. This is substantially lower than earlier estimates.

"The time has come for Minister Coveney to come clean on his housing figures. It is not acceptable for the Department of Housing to continually release figures that are not only inaccurate but wildly off the mark."

(CD/MH)