Sinn Féin's housing spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin has urged Minister for Housing James Browne to address a reported €162 million underspend within the Department of Housing, following the publication of a supplementary estimate this week.

The Dublin Mid-West TD raised the issue after the department released updated figures ahead of a scheduled discussion at the Oireachtas Housing Committee on Thursday.

Teachta Ó Broin said: "A supplementary estimate for the Department of Housing was published this week. It will be discussed by the Housing Committee next Thursday. In addition to the much expected increased allocation to homeless services to cover the cost of increased emergency accommodation provision, the estimates also highlight a number of key programmes where allocated funding have not been fully spent.

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"In total, €162m has not been spent across a number of programmes. There is an underspend of €90m in the Cost Rental Equity Loan programme that funds Approved Housing Bodies to deliver cost rental homes. This represents 13% of the total budget allocation to this programme. Earlier this year, Sinn Féin highlighted a significant delay from August 2024 in AHBs securing approval from the Department for such projects. This has resulted in a significant underspend, which in turn will delay the delivery of much needed homes.

"There was also significant underspends in the funding for housing for older people and those with disabilities (€1.3m), the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (4.3m), the Croí Cónaithe Cities programme (€12m), the Urban Renewal and Regeneration Programme (€15m) and the Developer Funded Water Infrastructure Programme (€44m).

"While none of this money will be lost to the Department, the fact that these important programmes are not spending their full allocation does impact on the families and communities who rely on these funding streams. Homes that should have been built will now be delayed. Infrastructure that should have been provided is now in doubt. Vital estate regeneration works will be slowed down. And the taking in charge of legacy water and wastewater plants in small rural communities will not happen.

"The Minister for Housing James Browne must explain why this vital funding is not being spent and what he and his Department are doing to ensure that funds allocated to vital schemes, such as the delivery of cost rental homes, is actually spent."