An independent review of the Irish government's housing strategy has recommended more funds be directed to filling unoccupied properties rather than building new homes.

Housing Minister Michael Finneran launched the report into capital funding for the voluntary and co-operative housing sectors, which backed long-term leasing.

The report was collated by Grant Thornton and studied 22,000 properties operated and managed under the schemes.

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Speaking at the Biennial Housing Conference, Minister Finneran said the report recommends a shift in emphasis from financing new build through capital funding to a mechanisms, largely built around the long-term leasing of properties.

"This new approach to social housing delivery will have the added advantage of unlocking the potential of empty properties," he said.

"And enable scarce capital funding to be directed at other priority areas including special needs housing for the elderly, the homeless and those with a disability, the regeneration of failed local authority estates and the upgrading and adaptation of the homes of older people and people with a disability."

The Grant Thornton review was a wholly external and independent review of the voluntary and co-operative housing sector in Ireland.

(PR/GK)