Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

The total capital provision for social and affordable housing this year is €2 billion — more than double what it was five years ago. That includes €1.4 billion Exchequer provision, an increase of 13% on last year. Some 6,000 local authority houses will start this year, including units provided under various schemes. The needs of some 14,000 households will be met by a range of social and affordable housing. The most recent assessment of housing need was undertaken by local authorities. The results found that just under 44,000 households were in need of social housing, a decrease of almost 10% on the figure a few years ago.

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