Fianna Fáil Spokesperson for Environment and Local Government Barry Cowen said the housing policies will exacerbate the housing emergency in the months ahead.
Deputy Cowen said: "72% of the new social housing units made available this year were leased or bought from the private market. This is a misguided strategy as it is decreasing the number of homes available to rent on the private market which is exacerbating the housing supply problem.
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"Minister Kelly is squeezing housing supply in the private market, especially at the lower end of the private rental market. This is making it harder for people to find suitable accommodation which is in turn leading to further rent increases. Ultimately it is forcing more people onto housing waiting lists.
"Minister Kelly took almost 10,000 homes out of the private housing market in 2015 alone. To put this into perspective, there were less than 10,000 new homes constructed in the private market in 2015."
(CD/LM)
