Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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To answer the Deputy's first question on revised housing targets, I expect the Cabinet subcommittee on housing to meet in the coming weeks. I will bring forward proposals to that subcommittee and we will discuss them among the three parties. That is based on the work that has been done by a number of bodies, including the ESRI and the Housing Commission. That will feed into the revised housing targets for the remainder of the decade. The projections for completions for the remainder of this year are strong. We will exceed our housing target this year quite substantially. We will attain our social housing new-build targets this year and will exceed our affordable housing targets. We started in 2020 and 2021, when no affordable homes were delivered, went up to 1,757 the following year, then 4,011, and there will be well over 6,000 this year through our affordable delivery streams. Our delivery of social homes is strong too. The new-build programme, since the Government came into office, delivered nearly 26,000 new-build social homes up to 2023. I already mentioned in my opening statement that we have a pipeline of about 26,000 social homes being delivered but we will have strong delivery in quarter 4. I expect to publish the quarter 2 data in the coming weeks. We are verifying that at the moment.

We have provided for an additional €1.25 billion in capital for the Land Development Agency. It is delivering sites at scale. The Deputy would have seen the broken ground on St. Teresa's Gardens. It is a significant site. Oscar Traynor Road in the Deputy's area is well advanced. It has about 14,000 homes in its pipeline right now. Affordable homes have been launched at Shanganagh Castle. There are good affordable, cost-rental and social homes there. Our approved housing body partners are crucial.

On housing for persons with special needs and disabilities, I will arrange for our officials to meet the St. John of God Housing Association. I am aware of the housing association and the work it does. We have been looking at CALF and CAS and how that can be accessed, and some reviews within it.

We were recently doing some work with the Disability Federation of Ireland, looking at our own allocations. In the last full year, 16% of all housing allocations for social housing have gone to those with disabilities. There has been a really significant increase over the term of this Government. Bespoke housing that is specifically designed for those with acute special needs is something we want to continue to increase the level of. Overall housing allocation in 2023 included 16% for persons with disabilities. I am happy to see that happening. The Deputy has seen in the Supplementary Estimate today that the housing adaptation grants are not only popular across our local authorities and with people but that they are badly needed too. We have been able to provide an additional €8 million this year and will have an increased amount next year too for housing adaptation grants and disabled persons' grants.