Sinn Féin is urging the State to fund council led mixed tenure developments throughout Ireland.

The party made the call after claiming that private developers have shown they do not want to build 'affordable' homes.

Housing spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin TD said the government has rolled out a number of schemes funded by the taxpayer to encourage developers to build affordable homes.

He said: "The Planning Rebate Scheme, which aims to encourage developers to build units and sell units for €300,000 or less in return for a refund of development levies has only attracted builders across of 16 housing developments across Dublin and will only result in approx. 1,283 affordable homes being delivered.

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"The Help-to Buy Scheme which the government claimed would increase the supply of affordable homes for first time buyers has in fact pushed house prices up and should be scrapped.

"The €200m Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (LIHAF) was established to assist private developers to unlock development sites by funding infrastructure like bridges and roads in return for some affordable homes.

"Originally developers were meant to work with local authorities to come to an agreement where at least 40% of all new homes would be sold at prices at least 10% below the market rate, or less than €300,000 in Dublin.

"However, this requirement has been watered down and as we speak no agreements have been reached between local authorities and developers on the issue of affordability.

"Huge global development companies should not be getting taxpayer’s money they don't need to build homes that people cannot afford.

"Private developers have no interest in building affordable homes. There is a growing number of people earning between €40,000 and €70,000 a year in need of an affordable home to purchase or rent."

(CD/MH)