Sinn Féin has called on the Government "to increase their social housing targets" as a Housing Agency report reveals that Local Authority social housing waiting lists have risen for the first time since 2016.

The party's housing spokesperson, Eoin Ó Broin TD, said that the Summary of Social Housing Assessments report showed that in 2023 there were 58,824 households on Local Authority waiting lists for social housing which is an increase of almost 1000 on 2022 and is the first increase from 2016.

In a statement Teachta Ó Broin said:

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"The Housing Agency report does not include all those eligible for social housing. Private rental tenants in receipt of HAP and RAS are excluded from the Council list but are still eligible for social housing. Last year the number of households in receipt of these short term private rental subsidies fell by just over a thousand.

"The net result of both changes means that social housing need has remained virtually static from 2022 to 2023 at almost 134,000 households. This is despite the fact that 8,110 new build social homes were delivered last year along with 1,830 social housing acquisitions and 1,999 long term leases.

"What this clearly shows is that the Government’s social housing targets are too low. If we are to see a significant reduction in social housing need and a shortening of the length of time people are waiting for social housing then Government must increase their social housing targets.

"Every day this government remains in office, the worse the housing crisis gets. It’s time for change. Housing would be the number one priority of a Sinn Féin government."