The Government's Vacant Homes Strategy has been delayed.

Labour spokesperson on Housing, Jan O'Sullivan TD, said she was "disappointed" and confirmed it has been delayed until late Autumn.

She said: "With nearly 200,000 empty homes in the country, most of them in urban areas, this is a vital opportunity missed to avail of the quickest way to add to the stock available to house people who are homeless or on waiting lists.

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"Minister Murphy told us that he has to engage with the Minister for Finance, that budgetary measures might cause delay and that he is awaiting the completion of a number of sub-reviews; these are all very well but why can't we have the Strategy and let these measures follow?

"I particularly urge the appointment of Vacant Homes officers in each Local Authority to proactively go after empty properties, identify obstacles and solutions to get them back into use, as recommended by Peter McVerry Trust."

(CD/LM)