Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy is correct that there are challenges in this area, including in building up resources in local authorities. I agree with the Deputy completely that the challenges we face in housing are not just urban-centric, they exist all across the country in urban and rural areas. Our job as a Government and my job as the Minister is to support local authorities to enable them to deliver in this regard. We are providing the human resources for county councils, like the one in Tipperary, to enable them to create their own housing delivery teams and we will provide those posts for them.

We must build that capacity up. The target for next year of 230 new build homes will stretch some local authorities, but it is achievable. In the short term to 2026, delivering just short of 900 new social homes will make a significant impact. We have gone through those targets individually with each local authority, including with Tipperary County Council. We will provide whatever support is needed to help the local authority to meet those targets and to make real strides in reducing the housing waiting list in Tipperary.

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