Sinn Fein has described the housing system in Ireland as "dysfunctional".

The party said decades of under investment has left thousands of families on social housing waiting lists and left others trapped in unsuitable accommodation in the private rented sector.

However, Housing spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin TD, is to host a major conference on housing on Thursday the 28 September which aims to focus of on developing a new approach to public housing.

-- Advertisement --

Deputy Ó Broin said: "The government has not done enough, nor does it seem inclined to instigate a significant policy shift towards taking a lead role in the delivery of social and affordable housing.

"This is clear as it struggles to provide even a definition of affordable housing, let alone provide the funding for such schemes.

"Similarly in relation to the provision of social housing, the government has not yet grasped the scale of need out there and has not yet committed to sufficiently funding social housing delivery.

"It is against this backdrop that this conference on Thursday aims to start a debate about the need for a new approach to public housing.

"The diverse line-up of speakers on the day aims to provide us with examples of successes and failures in relation to the delivery of public housing both at home and abroad."

(CD/MH)