Over 8,000 social houses to be built nationwide

Housing Minister Simon Coveney will today announce new plans to build 8,430 social housing amid criticism Government is failing to do enough to address surging waiting lists.

His department will publish detailed updates on the new builds at more than 500 developments nationwide as part of its Social Housing Construction Projects report.

The move, which is being backed by a previously announced €1.3bn budget for 2017, is part of Government plans to significantly increase social housing builds, promised after opposition criticism of slow progress on tackling the issue.