Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am talking about co-living which is the question the Deputy asked. There is no evidence that co-living has exploded in the way she says it has over the past 14 months. Of course, because it is new, we will keep it under review and ensure the guidelines are robustly enforced. The fact of the matter is that we must provide homes for everyone. Student accommodation takes pressure off other parts of the rental sector. If four students are in student accommodation instead of sharing a house, that house is available for a family to rent or for adults to share.

In the course of 2019, between 21,000 and 23,000 houses will be built and other homes will be added to the housing stock through the finishing of unfinished housing estates and other houses being taken out of long-term vacancy. Through providing homes, apartments, student accommodation and approximately 1% of co-living units, we will take the pressure off many families and individuals who do not have the kinds of choices they need in order to find a house they can afford to live in which is close to their work or family. The central objective under Rebuilding Ireland is to increase supply and, as that happens, to increase choice.

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