Almost €1 billion set aside for housing has remained unspent over the past three years.
Figures obtained by Sinn Fein show almost €1 billion, intended to be used to provide affordable homes, wasn't used between 2020 and 2022.
The Department of Housing has blamed the underspend on the shutdown of building sites during Covid-19 lockdowns, supply issues, and the spiralling costs of building materials.
Sinn Féin Housing Spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin, says there's no excuse for such a significant underspend.
No, Covid-19 is not the main cause of this underspend. If it was the case and last year, the underspend would've fallen dramatically, because the covid pandemic [restrictions] were over.
The very opposite is the fact. Last year was the largest underspend, and it's continuing into this year according to the latest figures from the Department of Finance.
Darragh O'Brien is very good at blaming everybody else for the housing crisis, where in fact, he is the [housing] minister.
