Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Based on what I know, the 25,000 figure is a Housing Agency figure.

It is also backed up by a number of economic think tanks in Ireland, including the ESRI. There are few people who would disagree that a country with a population of approximately 5 million and the type of demographics we have needs to build approximately 25,000 housing units per year. Most people would also accept that because of the deficit of the last decade, we need to go beyond the 25,000 target. I agree with Deputy Coppinger that the target of 25,000 housing units per year is not enough and that we need to go beyond it, if we can. Last year, only 12,600 housing units were built, half of which were once-off developments across rural Ireland and the other half of which were completion of unfinished apartment complexes and housing estates. Surpassing the 12,600 target this year will be a challenge. Currently, we are building less than half of what would be needed if we did not have a housing crisis.