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

The Deputy is correct on exits, which have been difficult in recent months because of shrunken supply. We are affected by the lack of new supply coming in over the past two years. We could not build the number of homes we needed. Much of that was down to Covid. We will see a significant increase in social housing supply this year. We will hit our target of 9,000 new builds. That does not take into account acquisitions, the remainder of the leasing piece that will come in or vacant units coming back into use. Increased supply this year will help. We have had an issue in respect of HAP, which has been used as a mechanism to help people exit homelessness. It is needed as an emergency response but finding HAP properties for our place finder teams is more difficult.

A combined response on all these matters is needed. The national homeless action committee, which is made up of NGOs and all Departments, not just mine because we need justice, health and all those included, is focused on prevention and exiting. We are working through that. Any additional measures we can take, we will take.

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