Sinn Féin has slammed the attendance figures of deputies to the Oireachtas Housing Committee.

Spokesperson on Housing, Eoin Ó Broin, said attendance to the Committee is "very poor", with less than half of members present much of the time.

Speaking as Sinn Féin published attendance figures for the Committee, Deputy Ó Broin said: "On April 13th the committee was hearing from expert witnesses and the Department of Housing on the issue of how to prevent future Priory Halls and Beacon Souths. Just three of seven TDs and one of three Senators bothered to turn up.

"The figures that I am releasing today show very clearly who is attending and who isn't. But they don't show the full picture. Some members only attend Committee for very short periods of time. Others attend and do not contribute.

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"The number of members who attend full committee meetings and engage with our important work is surprisingly low despite the raging housing and homeless crisis.

"Of course members can not attend every meeting due to clashing Dáil schedules and family commitments. But we all have the facility to request substitutes to attend in our place."

Mr Ó Broin added he was "genuinely surprised" Fianna Fáil's spokesperson on Housing, Barry Cowen, has the lowest level of attendance.

"For a front bench politician not to attend crucial meetings where the committee is scrutinising government legislation, holding the Minister to account on the implementation of his housing action plan, or proactively examining aspects of the housing and homeless crisis, is hard to understand," he said.

"The housing and homeless crisis is getting worse. The Oireachtas Housing Committee has a vital role to plan in ensuring the government does everything it can to address the crisis. If current members can not find the time to attend and participate fully then they should step down from the committee and let others take their place."

(LM/JP)