Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

The level of social housing output, by and large, decreased significantly in the late 1980s because there was no demand for it, there were empty houses in many estates in Dublin and, while the level of overall house production has increased significantly, the level of social housing output has not increased commensurate to that. When the Government gets around to dealing with the NESC report, that issue might be solved.

The last census indicated that the population increased by 18% in the age group between 25 and 34 years. These are the people who are buying homes. This is the key household formation age group. There is an enormous number of people in the market for buying houses. It is correct that we have gone through six, eight or ten years of pressure in the housing market, but the only way of meeting this demand is by increasing housing density and maximising the output of houses, which the Government has done, so that we can reach a position where supply equals demand. The figures for 2004 indicate that 75,000 or 77,000 houses were built, which is an enormous number. Most people agree that the number has now probably reached its peak. We need to keep to a substantial level over the next couple of years, but it may dip back a little. That is an enormous increase. Ten years ago, we were building just 21,000 or 23,000 houses.

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