Modular housing could be used for college accommodation, according to Housing Minister Simon Coveney.

Speaking in the Dáil today, Minister Coveney said a "dramatic increase" in accommodation on or near college campuses is needed to help alleviate the housing crisis.

He suggested using 'rapid-build' or modular housing to help take students out of the regular market, adding that students and families need different types of accommodation so it makes no sense to have them competing for the same properties.

"Some of the solutions could be put in place a lot quicker than conventional housing, and could free up a very significant places over a short period of time," he added.

"I've met with the universities on this. It's not as straight forward as we first thought, but it is an area I think we could do a lot on."

Minister Coveney had committed to publish an Action Plan for Housing by the end of July, but the government is now set to miss its own deadline.

The plan was due to be published within the first 100 days of Fine Gael and its Independent allies taking office.

The Minister for Housing said the document will instead be published in early September, due to the old deadline falling at some stage near the end of August.

"We could launch at the end of July and then have everybody heading off on holidays," said Coveney, "and I just don't think that's the kind of momentum we want this project to generate."