Sinn Féin has hit out at Tánaiste Frances Fitzgerald over her refusal to confirm when the Government will roll out its new model of 'affordable' rental housing.

Housing spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin TD said: "There are a growing number of working individuals and families who are not eligible for social housing but who cannot afford to rent or buy a home in the private market. Some estimate the number of such families to run into tens of thousands.

"The Programme for Government makes a commitment to develop a new model of affordable rental to meet the needs of these people within the first 100 days of government. The detail of this cost rental model was due to be rolled out by the third quarter of 2016. These commitments have not been met.

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"A number of questions need to be answered as to the detail of such a scheme. Who will be eligible for affordable rental accommodation? Who will run these schemes? Will legislation be required to allow local authorities to run such schemes? Most importantly we need to know, when affordable rental units will be available for people to rent?

"I raised these questions with Tánaiste Frances Fitzgerald this week. Unfortunately, she could not answer any of my questions. This is not good enough. Government must keep to its commitments and if it cannot it must explain to the Dáil and to the public why not."

(CD/LM)