Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Government appreciates the challenges, anxiety, stress and trauma that so many face as they look for an affordable home or a home they can be confident they will be able to afford to rent in the future and experienced by all those who have been waiting on social housing lists for so many years looking for the opportunity to have a roof over their head that they can call home. We appreciate this and we are determined to make progress on it. However, this is the reason we have such investment by the Government going directly into building more homes on State land, by the State, through local authorities. It is the reason we have plans in place for this year that will deliver up to 9,000 social homes across the country. These social homes are now being built across Dublin and many other cities to respond to the needs and issues we know so many are experiencing at the moment.

Deputy Boyd Barrett referred to where we are with homelessness. We acknowledge that we are seeing an increase in homelessness levels. Every family, child and person who is homeless at the moment is one too many. We are doing all we can to respond to that and make a difference to it. However, it is the reason we have set aside over €100 million in Housing for All to make a difference and put in place the interventions to get families and children out of emergency accommodation and into their own homes and give them the accommodation they need. It is the reason we are so committed to the public, social and affordable housing plans I have outlined in response to questions from Deputies today.

I appreciate that when Deputies are dealing with families who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, it gives us an insight into the sheer worry, concern and anxiety they have about a future that is so uncertain. The answer to that is to build more homes through our local authorities. That is what is happening. We will spare no effort in continuing to ensure that the local authority housing targets we have set are met. We are seeing clear signs of progress being made. More homes have commenced, more homes have secured planning permission and more homes were completed over the past 12 months. These will provide a foundation, after the effects of a pandemic during which our construction sector was closed for so long, to make quicker and more effective progress on the housing needs the Deputy described. While I accept these are real, I would argue to the Deputy that the Government is also making progress in responding to them.

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