The Affordable Homes Partnership (AHP), which came into effect on 1 August last, was established "to drive and coordinate the delivery of affordable housing in the greater Dublin area" as part of the government's pledge to provide 10,000 affordable homes, which was agreed in the last national pay deal.

However, AHP chief executive John O'Connor this weekend told the Sunday Tribune: "To date, the agency has not directly provided any affordable houses."

The agency currently has a staff of seven people, due to increase to nine next month. It is chaired by former Siptu president Des Geraghty.

O'Connor said: "It is envisaged that 3,000 affordable homes per annum will be delivered over the next four years and, where possible, the AHP will seek to add to this supply.

"The Call for Lands process is still ongoing. "Thirty-five submissions were received and we are currently working 12 of these proposals towards a more detailed stage that will include site plans, design, timescale and pricing details. The 12 proposals cover over 150 hectares of land in the Dublin area and will potentially deliver up to 4,000 homes on the basis that 70% are affordable."

But Threshold, the national housing organisation, criticised the AHP's performance to date. Threshold spokesman Bob Jordan said: "The whole premise behind the AHP is flawed and it does not seem to be delivering."