The government has come under fire for "lacklustre" housing delivery following the publication of the CSO's latest dwelling data.

The new figures show the government is 38% behind its overall delivery target for 2019, with only 9,185 new homes delivered to date.

Sinn Féin's Eoin Ó Broin condemned the figures as the target to deliver 125,000 new homes by 2021 under Rebuilding Ireland has fallen behind.

He said: "The government should be looking at delivering 30,840 new dwellings per year at this stage to reach the 125,000 target but according to the CSO data published today 9,185 new dwellings were built in the first half of 2019.

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"If this trend continues around 18,000 homes will be delivered by the end of the year, 12,000 short of the 30,000 plus target. 

"This lacklustre delivery means the government is playing catch up and will have to deliver 30,840 new dwellings per year for 2019, 2020 and 2021 to meet the 125,000 target.

"Therefore in the second half of 2019, 21,840 new dwellings must be completed."

Deputy Ó Broin added: "This shortfall in delivery once again shows that Rebuilding Ireland is not fit for purpose and never was.

"The Government must accept this and start prioritising investment in public housing on public land. It is the only way to the deliver the homes that people need at an affordable cost to both the exchequer and the homeowner."

(CM/MH)