Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I know that the issue of housing is of huge concern to people across the country and that many will express that concern by attending the protest today. I know that many people are frustrated by the pace of delivery. I, too, am frustrated by it, as is everyone in government. We all understand and share those concerns and frustrations and the desire to get results much more quickly. The Government is investing huge resources and amounts of time in the issue. It is determined to get on top of it and resolve the housing crisis.

People often ask what the Government is doing to deal with the problem. I could speak for hours about all of the actions and measures that are under way. I will mention the five main ones.

The biggest social housing programme in decades is under way. It will provide more than 100,000 houses in the next ten years, including 8,000 this year alone. People on housing lists will receive the keys to new homes this year and more will receive them next year.

The supply of new homes for people to buy is being accelerated. About 20,000 new houses and apartments will be built this year, up from 15,000 last year and 10,000 the year before. There will probably be 25,000 built next year. There is an acceleration of home building all around the country. Behind the figure of 20,000 new houses and apartments are 20,000 families - men, women and their kids - who are moving into new homes for the first time. There are more people renting than ever before and because of this the Government has passed new laws to strengthen the rights of tenants. It has brought in rent caps in urban areas to stop the spiralling, double digit rent increases, but there is more to be done in that area. The laws need to be tightened further and enforcement needs to be improved. That is exactly what the Government intends to do.

In the past couple of years the Government has focused on the issue of rough sleeping. The latest count shows that the number who are rough sleeping is down by 40%. That was not by accident. It happened because the Government had worked with NGOs and charities to get people off the streets, place them in secure accommodation and ensure they would have wraparound supports to deal with other issues related to health, addiction and family breakdown in order that they would not end up on the streets again. We are seeing progress in that regard.

The Land Development Agency has been established. People ask why the Government does not use State-owned lands to build housing. That is exactly what it is doing. It is public land and taxpayers' money that will be used to provide housing for everyone in society. There will be a mix of social housing, affordable housing, cost rental accommodation and houses for purchase.

All of these things are under way. I appreciate that we are playing catch-up, but we are catching up. I understand people's frustration that things are not happening more quickly, but we are determined to ensure they will happen and happen more quickly.

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