An emergency motion is being put before the country’s largest local authority - calling for the government to appoint a new chair of the Housing Agency.

Focus Ireland says it is concerned at the surprise re-appointment of Conor Skehan as chairman of the Housing Agency, claiming that the move “raises quite significant challenges”.

It is claimed that families in emergency accommodation may be declaring themselves homeless to skip the queue for the housing waiting list.

The chairman of the Housing Agency has said €34bn needs to be spent over the next 35 years on developing the region surrounding Dublin.