TDs have hit out after it emerged that local authorities and housing associations have turned down over 2,500 properties from NAMA.
The agency has told the Dáil's new housing committee that of 6,600 properties offered, well over a third were turned down for various reasons.
One reason cited by NAMA was that local authorities were concerned that accepting some units for social housing could mean a high concentration of social housing units in some areas.
Not all of the remaining 4,100 properties were taken up, as NAMA said in some cases, the offers were left standing for so long that properties ended up being sold along in the meantime.
In one case, a development of 500 properties was offered to South Dublin County Council, which was declined because central government guidelines forbid such a concentration of social housing units.
The number of properties turned down is roughly equal to the number of families currently living in emergency accommodation.
The news was met with anger from TDs on the committee, with Fine Gael's Fergus O'Dowd asking: "How in the name of God turn down a roof for families? That's what they're doing."
Fianna Fail's Barry Cowen asked NAMA for more specific details on what sort of properties had been turned down, so they could be considered in full by the new housing minister Simon Coveney.
Our political correspondent Gavan Reilly filed this report for Today FM's National Lunchtime News:
