It has emerged that hundreds of people who have been offered local authority housing are turning down the homes.

According to figures collated in today's Irish Independent, almost a third of offers nationwide were rejected.

In some counties like Cork and Waterford - which have rejection rates of 49% and 46% respectively - almost half of accommodation offered to people on housing lists was turned down.

In Dublin city, where the housing crisis is most severe, almost one in five offers (18%) were turned down.

Families rejected housing offers for a range of reasons including lack of access to schools and services, or because they did not like the area or the house.

The paper adds that Environment Minister Alan Kelly is considering introducing new rules around the provision of social housing.