Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy has come under pressure to confirm funding is secure for the Social Housing Investment Programme after funds were pulled from the retrofit scheme.

The government has decided to suspend funding for the retrofit grants scheme under the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). This has resulted in more than 300 homeowners awaiting approval to be denied funding.

Sinn Féin representative David Cullinane has slammed the decision, criticising the government's climate action plan as "optics over substance".

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Teachta Cullinane said: "It is amazing that the government has decided to suspend funding to one of its key climate action policies, leaving hundreds of households in the lurch.

"This comes on the back of reports last week that the targets for electric cars are pie-in-the-sky and do not have the confidence of the Minister for Transport.

"Last week we learned that Minister Ross said that in his view it is not clear how we can show that the target for electric cars is credible or that we have mapped out the cost implications – and yet despite this Minister Bruton went ahead and announced the impossible targets anyway.

"Today we have the suspension of one of the flagship policies of this government."

He added: "Climate change is area where the State could show real leadership, but today's news shows that the political will is not there."

(CM/MH)