Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 5 March 2026
147. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the action he proposes to take to address the growing housing deficit given that Government never met their targets for social and affordable housing delivery under Housing for All; if he will revise the targets contained within Delivering Homes, Building Communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17104/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraGabhaim buíochas leis an Aire. I want to ask the Minister today about the targets for social and affordable housing delivery under Housing for All. Given that it has become abundantly clear that the Government will not meet the targets this year, and it has never met them for social and affordable housing, will the Minister revise the targets contained within the new housing plan in order to take account of this and deal with the growing housing deficit?
I thank the Deputy. Under Delivering Homes, Building Communities, the Government is targeting the delivery of 300,000 new homes by 2030, including 72,000 social homes and 90,000 affordable supports. The latest Central Statistics Office, CSO, figures released show that a total of 36,284 new dwellings were completed in 2025, an increase of 20% year on year, the highest annual total since the dataset years began in 2011. Record level of social and affordable housing delivery have been achieved in recent years, with preliminary 2025 figures indicating further record levels of delivery.
Since 2019, new-build social housing delivery by the State has been tracking in and around 25% of the overall housing output, which is a very significant investment by the State in the provision of social housing. In conjunction with growing cost-rental delivery, it puts the State in a very strong position to meet, over time, the Housing Commission recommendation that social and cost-rental housing should comprise at least 20% of the entire housing stock.
I am confident that the new social and affordable targets set out in Delivering Homes, Building Communities can be achieved, supported by tangible measures set out in the plan, including streamlining and expanding affordable housing supports; the new single approval process for all new-build social housing projects up to a value of €200 million; mandating the use of standard house layouts and specification for social housing; and facilitating the use of modern methods of construction through standardised design approaches. We have also introduced a revamped renewal programme focused on tackling dereliction and vacancy in social housing; expanding the role and remit of the Land Development Agency; expanding and streamlining the operation of the land acquisition fund; financially incentivising local authorities to exceed annual own-build social housing targets; and funding ring-fenced social and affordable new-build housing delivery teams in each local authority.
In addition, the housing activation office will identify and seek to address barriers to the delivery of public infrastructure projects required to enable housing development and support increased delivery of the national development plan. Record levels of funding have been committed for new social and affordable housing totalling almost €20 billion.
The Minister's rental reforms are going to increase homelessness, certainly in the short term. One of the leading issues in regard to addressing homelessness is having an adequate supply of social and affordable housing. Based on the quarter 3 construction status report, the Minister is only going to, as of that date, meet 30% of his target for social housing delivery. In 2024, 10,596 were delivered against a 12,930 goal. Is the Minister going to revise the targets he has for an average of 12,000 new social homes in his current housing plan in order to deal with that deficit? The targets in that plan are too low given the demand that already exists, given the issue with the Minister's rental reforms and given the fact that a 56% increase in social homes is needed just to close the deficit.
I do not accept that the new legislation is going to drive up homelessness. We know that notices to quit are the single greatest driver of homelessness. We know that the average tenancy is about 3.6 years. The new six-year tenancies of minimum duration will, I have no doubt, drive that 3.6 years significantly longer and reduce notices to quit, with people coming in and needing housing under new tenancies.
In regard to last year, just over 36,000 new homes were built. Some 25% of those were new-build social homes. That shows the Government is fully committed. Most local authorities are now stepping up to the mark in delivering social homes but we need every local authority stepping up to meet its targets because the funding is there for those local authorities to deliver on those social homes. What we did last year was deliver 9,089 new-build social homes. That is an increase of 1,256 homes, or 16% compared to 2024. This is the highest number of social homes newly built in the history of the State. That shows the Government's commitment to new-build social home delivery.
Going by the Minister's response, he is saying that 9,289 new-build social homes-----
It was 9,089.
There were 9,089 built. That is still, over the lifetime of Housing for All, beneath the target of that plan. I am asking, in particular, about the 2026 budget allocation. For example, that does not take into account that there was an underdelivery of around 4,000 units under the previous housing plan and the Minister has already underestimated the level of need in his new housing plan. He has not actually taken into account that the figures suggest that overall, under Housing for All, the Government did not reach its targets.
The fact of the matter is that the Minister's measures are already having an effect in his own county. We have not seen housing assistance payment, HAP, levels increase and the market rent reset is going drive rents up and increase homelessness because people will not be able to pay the rent.
I do not think it can be glossed over that last year, we built the highest number of new-build social homes in the history of the State. What has to be understood is that-----
The Minister missed his target again. What was the target? He missed the target.
-----we were coming from a standing start because the Deputy will know-----
The Minister has been in government for a decade.
Stop trying to shout me down, please.
The Minister missed his targets. He should be honest.
Deputy Ó Broin.
The consistent Sinn Féin tactic is whenever I say something they do not want to hear, they start shouting me down. The Deputy has to have respect. He does not have to like what I have to say but he has to listen to me.
I do not think I shouted.
And it continues.
I politely interjected. The Minister's target was 10,000 and he missed it.
Deputy Ó Broin.
The Minister did not meet his target.
Is the Deputy going to let me speak? I thank the Deputy. It is the highest number of new-build social homes in the history of the State but we came from a very low standing start. As Deputy Sheehan will know, the last time the Labour Party had the Department of housing-----
The International Monetary Fund, IMF, was there.
-----it built 75 new-build social homes in the entire State.
The IMF was there because Fianna Fáil crashed the economy.
Deputy Sheehan.
We have taken that from 75 to 9,089.
Fianna Fáil crashed the economy.
We left them with too many houses; that was the problem. The Labour Party turned a crisis of too many homes into one of too few in four and a half years. Well done.
Fianna Fáil slashed capital funding for social housing.
I ask the Minister to resume his seat. If that continues, I am just going to move on to the next question. The Deputies are asking the questions. The Minister is attempting to answer and if that crossfire continues, I am not going to allow it. Show some respect for what is going on here. We will move onto the next question and I ask the Minister to not interrupt Deputy Ó Broin.
