Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Social housing is a key priority for this Government. We have set out an additional €2.2 billion in the budget for 2015 and the next three years to provide social housing. As the Deputy may be aware, particularly in Dublin West, housing construction has actually recommenced. This will help huge numbers of people interested in buying a starter family home on an affordable mortgage basis to find a home as opposed to what has been happening since the banking collapse, namely, many families being forced to rent in a market where rents have certainly increased in recent times.

Rents have increased significantly, as we know from various reports. The commitment of €2.2 billion in the budget to provide for social housing is probably the most radical and largest investment in providing social homes for families who need to be housed. It is a key priority for the Labour Party and Fine Gael. As Deputy Coppinger was a member of a Dublin local authority for a significant period of time, she will be aware that some time around 2000, under the previous Government, for reasons that have not been fully explored the local authorities basically stopped building social housing.

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