No new homes have been developed in Galway since 2016 despite thousands of people on housing waiting lists, according to a new report.

Housing policy analyst and architect Mel Reynolds, who produced the report, also revealed that local authorities across the country are sitting on serviced land banks, with only 3% of the 1200 hectares they own being utilised for social housing.

Sinn Féin Senator for Galway West-South Mayo Trevor Ó Clochartaigh raised serious concerns over the findings and hit out at the government over its failure to tackle the crisis.

He said: "Mr Reynolds has accused the State of being the 'single biggest land hoarder in Ireland'. The Government cannot wash their hands of their responsibility for this lack of action.

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"They need to make monies and adequate staffing available to the councils in a timely and efficient manner and also speed up the approvals process. Instead of reports and allocations on paper, we need action to see real houses built, to house real families, really quickly.

"I also commend Galway Traveller Movement who have launched the Galway Traveller Community Accommodation Campaign. Their conference this week highlighted the disgraceful conditions so many Traveller families find themselves in and the complete failure of the Local Authorities in delivering on the targets they set themselves in their Traveller Accommodation plans.

"Much of the blame must lie with the majority of local politicians, particularly Fianna Fáil & Fine Gael, who do not have the political will to deliver on these plans.

"They make a mockery of the Government announcement in relation to recognising Traveller Ethnicity on the 1st of March this year, returning funding allocations consistently, whilst failing miserably to deliver on the fundamentals of adequate, culturally appropriate accommodation solutions."

(CD/MH)