Councils must focus on increasing land portfolio to provide housing, Oireachtas hears

Eddie Taaffe said 28% of council landbanks are unable to be progressed at present due to a lack of services, including water, wastewater, and electricity. File picture 

Local councils only have enough land banks for social housing delivery to last the next three to four years, the Oireachtas Housing Committee has heard.

Eddie Taaffe, chairman of the County and City Management Association (CCMA) committee on housing, said local authorities have over 560 landbanks suitable for housing, which can be used to deliver around 21,500 homes.