Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Housing for All plan sets ambitious targets with the aim of delivering 300,000 new homes by the end of 2030. Last week's budget provided a record €4.5 billion of capital investment to achieve these targets. Of the planned 300,000 new homes in this plan, these will include 90,000 social homes, 56,000 affordable purchase homes and 18,000 cost-rental homes.

The first signs of growth in this sector are now appearing after a decade of undersupply due to various factors such as the banking collapse, and the subsequent recession, coupled with the enforced closure of many housing projects during the early months of the pandemic. We then had the logistics difficulties and the subsequent inflation in the construction sector. Now, we are having to work through the difficulties of the energy market brought about by the Ukraine war.

According to the 2016 census, there are nearly 117,000 people living in homes in County Clare. Overall, the vast majority, or nearly 90,000, are living in their own homes with just over half of that number with a mortgage. There are 16,500 renting a property from a private landlord and there are just over 9,000 people living in social housing. There are 2,900 households seeking social housing.

The Minister has visited the county on a number of occasions and I am looking forward to welcoming him back again at the end of this month to launch four new social housing schemes comprising 153 new homes in Miltown Malbay, Tulla and two separate schemes in Ennis at Lifford and Ashline.

Significant progress has been made in delivering new social homes in the County over the past number of years, including those delivered directly by Clare County Council and AHBs. We need to ensure that affordable housing schemes are also brought on line in the county and I welcome the Minister confirming to me that two affordable housing schemes are to be built in Ennis. These are at developmental stage between the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and Clare County Council.

Much more is needed in this regard to deliver affordable housing throughout County Clare.

I also welcome the extension of the Croí Cónaithe (towns) fund scheme to rural areas, which is something I have campaigned for. There will be a big take-up of this new scheme, which is now countrywide, in the county.

I wish the Minister well as it appears he will retain the housing portfolio. I look forward to working with him on developing more housing opportunities for people throughout County Clare, particularly in the area of affordable housing.

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