Simon Coveney is to publish a new housing action plan by the end of July, in his new role as Minister for Planning, Housing and Local Government.

Speaking to Newstalk Lunchtime Minister Coveney acknowledged that a broken property market exists in Ireland, but that it is his job to fix it.

The Minister for Housing said that the main focus of his strategy will be to “increase supply” into the housing market.

He said the 230,056 vacant properties – highlighted in a report by the Housing Agency - present a big opportunity for the government as "many would be more than suitable for social housing or families to rent or buy".

Minister Coveney said the vast majority of the properties are in private ownership.

While he wouldn’t go into details about the specifics of the new action plan he said strategies may include streamlining the planning process, strategic use of Strategic Development Zones (SDZs), an infrastructure fund for Local Authorities, and doing more work around an affordable rental scheme.

He also said areas like construction levies and VAT would be looked at.

Coveneny also acknowledged that things are likely to get worse before they get better, with numbers in emergency accommodation likely to increase in the short to medium term.

Latest figures released by Focus Ireland show that 366 families and 731 children became homeless in Dublin in the first four months of 2016.

The increase brings the total number of families living in emergency accommodation in Dublin to a record 888 with 1786 children.

Minister Coveney said: “This year, Dublin City Council will spend €46million on hotel rooms on families that don’t have homes”.

“I need to respond to it with the sense of urgency that I am giving to it”.

He told Jonathan Healy that he has been meeting with local councils and voluntary agencies to further “understand the issue from the inside out and then to put measures in place that are practical and action orientated.”