Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 12 to 29, inclusive, together. The Cabinet committee on housing has met seven times to date in 2022. The most recent meeting took place on Monday, 24 October, and the next will take place on Monday next, 21 November. The committee works to ensure a co-ordinated approach to the implementation of Housing for All and the delivery of programme for Government commitments regarding housing and related matters.

Housing for All is the most ambitious housing plan in the history of our State and contains actions to ensure over 300,000 new homes are built by 2030, along with delivering fundamental reform of our housing system. The target to 2030 includes 90,000 social, 36,000 affordable purchase and 18,000 cost-rental homes. The plan is backed by the highest ever State investment in housing and is having a very significant impact, despite a number of challenges which have emerged as a result of the war in Ukraine and other external factors.

We are on track to meet the target for this year of 24,600 new build homes. A total of 20,807 new homes were completed in the first three quarters of 2022, more than the whole of 2021. Almost 28,000 new homes were completed in the 12 months to the end of September, the highest rolling 12-month total of any period since comparable data was first published in 2011. Planning permission was approved for 44,715 homes in the year to June of this year, representing an 11.4% increase on the same period in 2021. Since the middle of last year, over 68,500 new homes have been either built or commenced. Last year 9,183 social homes were delivered. These are clear indicators that the plan is starting to work. However, the results will take time given the scale of the challenge and the need to bring about fundamental reform.

Along with increasing the supply of houses and reforming our system of home delivery, we have introduced measures to support renters. We are accelerating the delivery of cost-rental homes with State-backed rents at least 25% below what they would be on the private market. In 2023, a further 1,850 cost rental homes are to be delivered. We have introduced legislation to cap rent increases and enhanced security for tenants through the deferring of no-fault terminations for the winter emergency period. Other initiatives which have been introduced include the first home scheme, Project Tosaigh and a vacant homes tax. A number of fundamental reforms are in progress, including a major overhaul of the planning process and initiatives to promote innovation and productivity in housing construction.

Looking ahead to 2023, we have committed a record €4.5 billion in public funding for the provision of more social, affordable and cost rental homes. On 2 November, Government published its first annual update of the plan's actions, setting out how it is responding to challenges in the external environment, notably inflationary pressures and interest rate rises, while ensuring focus remains on delivery.

The stability provided by a clear and comprehensive plan is now more important than ever. The review was all about prioritising measures to activate and accelerate the delivery of housing supply while continuing to deliver on the fundamental reforms set out in the plan. The focus throughout 2023 will be on the following: meeting the challenges of viability, affordability and sustainability; reforming the planning system; delivering social and affordable homes; boosting productivity; increasing construction sector capacity; revitalising our towns and villages; improving the rental market; and planning for the future.

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