Taoiseach | Update on the most recent Cabinet Committee on Housing meeting

To ask the Taoiseach when the most recent meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Housing took place.
                                                                                          – Bernard J. Durkan.


To ask the Taoiseach if he will provide an update in respect of the Cabinet Committee on Housing.
                                                                                          – Bernard J. Durkan.

REPLY

A Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take questions 1  to 16 together.

The Cabinet Committee on Housing last met on 2^nd of March. The next meeting of the Committee is scheduled for 17^th of April.  

This Committee works to ensure a coordinated approach to the implementation of Housing for All. Progress of Housing for All is reported on a quarterly basis.  The latest progress report, for Q4 2022, was published on 7th of February.

The Quarter 1 2023 report will be published in April.

Solving this housing crisis is one of the greatest political challenges of our time and an imperative.

Due to a rising population, smaller household size and the scarring effects of the construction/banking/fiscal crisis, we have an enormous deficit of housing in Ireland, perhaps 250,000 units.

But we are making progress. In 2022, almost 30,000 new homes were completed, the highest since 2008.

When verified and published in the coming weeks, figures will show that more social housing was built in 2022 than in any other year in decades.

To ensure the substantial uplift in supply in 2022 can be maintained and exceeded, a record €4.5 billion in State housing investment has been allocated in 2023, to build 9,100 new social homes and 5,500 affordable homes, including 1,850 Cost Rental homes.

New measures to further enhance the supply of social homes and reduce the impact from challenges in the private rental sector have been agreed.  

Through Housing for All we are also accelerating the adoption of Modern Methods of Construction with 30 sites identified for accelerated delivery of 1,500 new social homes, and driving significant reforms including the draft Planning and Development Bill.

The most effective way to resolve the challenges currently being experienced is to increase supply and accelerate delivery of housing for purchase, and for private rental, cost rental and social rental.