Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It is fully understood that if one were to reach 20% of national housing stock, which is one of the recommendations the Housing Commission made, it would mean a serious acceleration of that delivery. We are assessing and examining each of the commission's recommendations. I was putting on the record what we are currently doing. I have recognised that previous unmet demand, particularly around social and affordable housing. We need to further scale up in that regard. I contend, and Deputy Ó Broin disagrees, which is fair enough, that we have made a significant step change in that delivery.

To answer the Deputy's question with regard to increased targets, if the target for housing output were increased to 50,000, for example - I am just picking a figure and no one has settled on that one - it would require increased State investment. It would also require increased private investment and that, too, needs to be looked at. I do not think any of us disagree that there is an absolute need for private investment to deliver the homes we need as well. The State cannot and should not do all of it. To answer Deputy Ó Broin's question directly, the criteria that were set for the ESRI by officials with regard to its work are unchanged from the previous criteria. This is important.