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

I do not disagree with the need to pursue as wide a range of issues and initiatives that we can. This year, we will exceed our targets in Housing for All. There will be more than 26,000 home completions, the highest number of houses built in any one year since 2008. Measures in Housing for All are having an impact. It is not just about announcing strategies and plans; they are having an impact.

The issue is that we need to build more than 30,000 houses per annum. Prior to 2020, we were at about 20,000. The need to pick up and increase capacity has been there. The good news is that there are now 40,000 more people working in the housing construction sector this year than last, and 20,000 over the 2019 level. The pipeline in terms of apprentices in the construction industry is strong, thanks to the good work of the Minister, Deputy Harris, in terms of the increased numbers coming through to work in construction trades. That is something we need to continue. We are building capacity at all levels for the long haul. We have to build 35,000 houses or more every year as we go through the decade. We have to build up to that.

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