Fianna Fail is once again calling on the government to start building new homes.

The party's housing spokesperson Barry Cowen made the call after it was revealed the government's Re-Building Ireland plan is already behind target.

He said: "Supply is the key issue that needs to be addressed to get to grips with the crisis in the private, social and rental sector. Re-Building Ireland has been in place for two years and the crisis is only getting worse."

Mr Cowen also announced that Fianna Fail is launching a national housing roadshow which aims to discuss the issues facing homeowners, renters, people on the housing list and people who are homeless.

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The roadshow will begin in Sligo next week.

The meetings will focus on:

• Social Housing Waiting List & Homelessness

• Rent Crisis

• Home Ownership

• National Planning Framework

He continued: "Housing is the key issue facing this Government. Homelessness has reached unprecedented levels, rents are at historic heights, home building numbers are tens of thousands behind where they need to be and some 85,000 people are on the social housing waiting list. All the while, ordinary workers cannot afford a place to own. This series of meetings in towns across the country is designed to raise awareness and get a sense on the ground about where the failings are, and more importantly, what can be done to address them."

(CD/LM)