Around 600,000 people are living in poor housing conditions across the country, according to the latest Engineers Ireland report.

The Engineers Ireland 'State of Ireland 2019' report looks at those living with leaks, damp or rot, and estimates almost 2 million homes will have to be retrofitted in the long term.

Labour Housing spokesperson, Jan O'Sullivan TD has called the report a "call to action" and urged Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy to "wake up".

Deputy O'Sullivan said: "It is beyond time that the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government immediately ramps up the limited support that is available to Local Authorities to bring their homes up to the required standard.

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"The responsibility for retrofitting of course doesn't just stand with Minister Murphy, there is a real opportunity for Minister Bruton to work with the SEAI to revise their schemes for privately-owned homes so that poorer households are not excluded because they can't afford the up-front matching costs.

"The Engineers Ireland report shows just how bad Irish housing stock is. It comes at a time when we have, as a nation, committed to playing our part in addressing the threat posed by the climate crisis and global warming.

"It is essential that poorer households are not excluded and are able to heat and maintain their homes without facing fuel poverty as increasing carbon taxes are applied."

She concluded: "The most urgent action needed is to bring older, poor quality homes up to standard and living in a local authority house or on a low income should not leave you out in the cold."

(CM/JG)