The Government has been called to fully fund a regeneration project in Dublin.

Sinn Fein made the call as the party believes the St. Micheal's estate regeneration scheme should not be a private sector-led land initiative.

The party's housing spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin TD said: "During questions with the Minister last week in Dáil, I asked Minister English if the government would consider using this regeneration project as a pilot for a fully state funded regeneration project.

"This way the State could ensure that the necessary proportion of social and affordable home would be provided. It would also ensure that the affordable homes would actually be affordable and that the project wouldn't be beholden to private finance.

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"Sinn Féin has strong concerns about the funding model that is being used for the land initiative in St. Michael's Estate. There is a long history of failed and collapsed regeneration projects at this location.

"The local community has been very active on this issue and the government must consider directly funding a council-led, mixed-tenure estate, with social and affordable housing, to meet the needs of the local community.

"I was very disappointed with Minister English's response. The fact that the Department of Housing will not even consider this proposal is very short-sighted. In relation to the affordable housing on the site, the Minister stated that the homes on the site will be affordable, without stating what affordable is."

(CD/LM)