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The Government has been blasted over its failure to tackle the homelessness crisis despite the fact 200,000 housing units are lying empty.

Labour’s Jan O’Sullivan hit out after it emerged a report on the critical issue has been gathering dust on Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy’s desk since last June.

The Limerick TD said it “beggars belief” that it is being hidden and remains unpublished.

(Image: Gareth Chaney/Collins)

As it stands there are more than 200,000 empty housing units across the State, with more than 8,500 people homeless, including 3,000 children.

Minister Murphy trumpeted using the properties to help solve the crisis as part of the Rebuilding Ireland plan announced last year but admitted to the Dail yesterday the report has yet to be published.

Ms O’Sullivan said: “It is now nearly a year since we were told by Government a Vacant Homes strategy was

in the making to help deal with the housing crisis, with a similar pledge made during the summer.

“And yet here we are at the start of a new year being told a strategy is still being developed with a ‘view to publishing it in the near future’.

“Where is the urgency from Government on this? It is particularly baffling considering that ‘Utilising existing housing’ is one of the five pillars of the Government’s own Rebuilding Ireland.

“Bringing some of these homes back into use would be much quicker than the estimated three years it takes to build a new home.

“And with supply such a critical issue, it beggars belief we have not still seen the publication of a National Vacant Homes Strategy.”

(Image: Gareth Chaney Collins)

Mr Murphy defended the fact the report has yet to be published, saying: “Preparatory work was undertaken by a working group chaired by the Housing Agency.

“My Department received the output in June 2017 and is presently further developing the strategy with a view to publishing it in the near future.

“It should be noted a significant number of measures to incentivise the increased use of vacant housing stock have already been introduced.”