It has been reported that modular housing in Ballymun, originally due to be completed in December, will now not be available until May.

The 22 houses in the Poppintree area are to be the first of 500 such homes designed to accommodate homeless families in Dublin.

This is the third delay for the emergency housing, after the completion date was originally extended until the end of January and then again until the end of this month.

Local councillors have called on officials to provide clarity regarding the time frame.

Sinn Féin councillor Noeleen Reilly told the Irish Times: "Clearly, completely unrealistic time frames were given, but I find it very odd that’s it’s taking so long and I find it very difficult to get a straight answer on why it is taking so long."

Fianna Fáil councillor Paul McAuliffe said: "The fact is this is not modular housing. It is standard timber-frame housing, but we were told it was modular housing that would be put up quickly to deal with an emergency situation and so the normal planning process could be circumvented.”