Govt urged to do more to tackle social housing shortage

Focus Ireland has called on the Government to do more to tackle a chronic shortage of social housing throughout the country.

The homeless charity made the call as it announced plans to provide 800 families and single people with long-term housing over the next five years.

Around 50,000 households are currently on waiting lists for social housing, but that figure is expected to grow in the coming years and Focus Ireland has predicted that 73,000 new housing units will be needed before 2012.

Declan Jones, the charity's chief executive, said: "All we're looking for from government is a commitment to supplying enough social housing to ensure sustainable accommodation and the elimination of homelessness."