The government has been slammed over failing to meet its targets in the delivery of social homes across Ireland.

Out of a total of 12,293 planned housing units only 11.9% have been completed, according to figures from the Department of Housing.

Sinn Féin Housing spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin TD said the pace of the delivery is "glacial".

He said: "Not only are the targets too low, the pace of delivery is glacial. Of the 12,293 housing units planned, 9,338 have planning permission of which 5,120 are on site. This means that just 41% are actually being constructed. Of these only 1,460 have been completed.

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"That is a completion rate of 12% are complete. Given that many of these projects secured planning permission back in 2014 and 2015 it is hard to understand why it is taking so long to get them built.

"While some Local Authorities are preforming better than others, some are not performing at all. In Wicklow, Offaly, Laois and Leitrim not a single social house has been built.

"The figures clearly demonstrate why the housing crisis is getting worse. Social housing constriction targets are far too low and construction is happening at snails pace. It is hard to see how the Government will meet even these modest targets.

"We need a greater sense of urgency from both central and local government."

(CD/MH)