Serious concerns have been raised over plans for social homes in Northern Ireland.

Sinn Fein was speaking after submitting a detailed response to the Department of Communities plans for social housing.

The party's housing spokesperson Carál Ní Chuilín said: "They focus on allocations when it is abundantly clear that what is required are tangible measures to address homelessness and overcrowding by building more social housing and allocating them on the basis of objective need.

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"The United Nations the Equality Commission have both highlighted the unequal access to social housing for the Catholic community here. That evidence cannot be ignored and the ongoing failure to address social housing on the basis of objective need cannot be tolerated.

"Sinn Féin believes unequal access and unmet need are inextricably linked and structural constraints must be addressed rather than just processes."

(CD/MH)