The Labour Party is once again calling for more social homes to be developed in Ireland after a report by the Simons Communities revealed only seven per cent of the estimated 3,150 properties available to rent fall within HAP limits.

Housing spokesperson Jan O'Sullivan said: "With only about 9,500 new builds in 2017, the State has to pick up the slack from where the private sector has failed in terms of building enough homes to meet the demand.

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"Labour proposes merging NAMA and the Housing Finance Agency into one body tasked with building social and affordable homes; the need for supply cannot be overstated.

"With 93% of all properties that are currently available to rent coming in above the HAP limits, the 9,000 or so adults and children in emergency accommodation will find it really difficult to ever move into a privately rented home."

(CD/MH)