The Government has been called upon to start delivering new homes after it was revealed that Ireland is 6,000 homes behind its Rebuilding Ireland social housing targets.

The data, revealed by Fianna Fáil Housing Spokesperson Barry Cowen TD, shows the Government delivered 743 homes in the first nine months of 2017. This falls below the 2017 target of 3,200.

Deputy Cowen said: "These figures cast serious doubt on the Governments capacity to provide 50,000 social housing units by 2021, including 30,000 new build homes.

"Rebuilding Ireland is around 6,000 units behind schedule when compared with the Ministers own targets for direct build, acquisitions and repair and lease. This excludes missed opportunities like the 4,500 NAMA units that were turned down by Local Authorities. In order to make up this deficit and reach the overall targets we will need a major shift in Government thinking to address the homelessness crisis and the 100,000 households on the waiting list.

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"The Local Authority and Approved Housing Bodies approach is clearly not delivering. We need a renewed emphasis on the implementation of a direct building programme which the State has successfully delivered in the past. Building 10,000 units per annum is achievable. Fianna Fáil delivered more than this number between 2007 – 2009.

"Proceeds from bank share sales and the €3bn NAMA fund should be directed towards a direct build programme. In addition, the Fianna Fáil Vacant Housing Refurbishing Bill should be introduced as a priority. This could help create 4,000 new units in Dublin alone."

(CD/LM)