A Labour TD has accused a Catholic housing agency of mistreating elderly tenants and leaving 99 units idle in Dublin's inner city.
Former junior minister Joe Costello has now called on Archbishop Diarmuid Martin to intervene.
The Dublin Central TD told the Dáil that while he welcomed today's announcement of a major social housing programme, it was "unconscionable" for the Catholic Housing Aid Society to prevent tenants from returning to their properties after they were refurbished.
He said eight years ago about 40 tenants had been moved out of Fr Scully House in Gardiner Street in the north inner city.
It was to be demolished and rebuilt at taxpayers' expense, but the society was now refusing to allow them return until they paid a higher rent than the more modest local authority rent they had expected.
Mr Costello called on Archbishop Martin to intervene to allow the tenants to return in time for Christmas.
Minister of State Kevin Humphreys told the Dáil the situation could not continue.
He said about €17m had been spent on Fr Scully House and the difficulties had to be resolved as soon as possible.
