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

Respond's report says the average is six months. It also points out that 16% of people, with a little support, are able to return to the family homes from which they came, and that should be seen as a positive.

Deputy Ó Broin asked about the results of Rebuilding Ireland, the Government's housing plan. I draw his attention to the extent to which things have changed since Rebuilding Ireland was published. In the year before it was published and implementation began, and before the Tánaiste, Deputy Coveney, became Minister, family homelessness increased by 60%, a huge increase. In the past year, thankfully, we have seen a negligible or no increase in family homelessness. I think the figure for the past year is 0.17%. No increase in family homelessness for one year is not something to be proud of and not something I am bragging about, and I do not want anyone to misrepresent what I am saying. However, before Rebuilding Ireland was published and before we started implementing it, family homelessness was going up by 60%. It has levelled off in the past year. That is the difference it has made. It has only started, though. It is a five-year plan, not a two-year plan. We have got to the point at which the figure has levelled off. We now need to see reductions in the coming months and years.

Deputy Ó Broin talked about growing evidence. There is now growing evidence of housing supply being delivered, with 50,000 houses and apartments built since I became Taoiseach, including 20,000 in the past year, which represents a 22% increase on last year, according to the CSO. There has been an 80% increase in the number of apartments built. More social housing is being provided than at any point in this decade, and the number of people on housing lists is going down. We are seeing progress. Yes, it was a slow start - of course it was going to be a slow start. One cannot rebuild a construction sector overnight. However, the plan, which was published two years ago and has now been implemented for two years, is showing results and we now need to build on them. One thing that will not make a difference, I guarantee the Deputy, is a motion of no confidence and a general election in Christmas week or the following week. That will not build any houses. It might get Sinn Féin publicity, but that is about it.

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