The Environment Minister Alan Kelly has accused the body that represents architects of being "disingenuous and hypocritical".

It comes after the Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland said Mr Kelly's new smaller apartment sizes announced last month cannot be built because minimum room sizes would not fit inside.

Minister Kelly says the RIAI's comments are "strange".

He said: "Some of the people who are commentating, if you check out their work, they have actually designed apartments of a size and standard that is less than the standard that they are now complaining about.

"So I found it disingenuous, I found it hypocritical.

"There are many other organisations across the country who are very familiar with the reasons why we have done this and are supporting it."