Kelly reveals plan to take 90,000 off social housing lists by 2020

Plans to ensure a massive 90,000 people on social housing waiting lists are in homes by 2020 have been announced, amid fears thousands will soon flock to the State service because they cannot afford a home.

Environment Minister Alan Kelly revealed the ambitious attempt to wipe out the social housing backlog by the end of the decade in a move he said was the reason he took on his ministerial role.

However, concerns have been raised over where the units will be built and if private landlords will be enticed into a key part of the project, while the opposition has claimed the move is a “PR stunt” to hide the third Government housing plan in just six months.