Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

More than 7,700 grant applications were made with some 4,600 already approved and 300 issued. Deputy Ó Broin knows better than most that the grant is paid upon completion of work. That is a critical point. The Deputy knows that the local authorities conduct a final property visit to ensure the works have been completed in line with the grant applications approved. It is imperative that this is done to ensure the correct checks and balances are in place. The Deputy knows that then, and only then, the grant is paid by the local authority, once it is satisfied that all scheme conditions have been met. The Deputy also knows the drawdowns will increase significantly throughout 2024 as more refurbishment works are completed. Based on the current grant approval and timelines to be completed on approved works, the set target of 4,000 homes will be achieved in 2025. The Government has delivered unprecedented levels of new homes, including the ramping up of social and affordable homes delivery.

We are not stopping there, with record levels of commencements and planning permissions granted, the progress made since the publication of Housing for All is evident. The most important action is to build new homes and we have exceeded the overall Housing for All targets to date. In 2022, the first full year of delivery under the plan, we delivered close to 30,000 new homes, 5,000 more than was outlined in our target. Progress continues in 2023, and we see further growth this year as the plan and its many initiatives have gained a firm footing.

In 2023, we delivered more than 32,600 new homes. This is the highest level of delivery in more than 15 years. There were construction commencements on almost 33,000 homes in 2023. This is the highest number of commencements since records began a decade ago. This March alone, building began on 4,900 new homes, bringing the total just shy of 12,000 commencements for the first quarter of 2024. This is a record high for the first three months of this year and an increase of 63% compared to the same period last year. Furthermore, 2023 CSO data on planning permissions show that nationally planning permissions were granted for 41,225 new homes in 2023. This is an increase of 21% on 2022.

We are not resting on our laurels as challenges still remain. Homelessness is a serious concern for the Government. There is no shortage of will and determination to deal with this issue and it remains the top priority for the Government. We are working with all local authorities to reduce the numbers of people in emergency accommodation and ensuring that local authorities allocate increased numbers of social homes to households in emergency accommodation.

I reiterate that Housing for All is working. We have achieved much since the plan was published and we know there is still a long road ahead. We will continue to do everything in our power to increase affordability, improve the rental market, eradicate homelessness, address vacancy and fix the housing system for our children, grandchildren and generations to come.

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