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

As I said, considerable progress has been made on housing with 30,000 new homes completed last year, a 45% increase on 2021. We saw the highest number of first-time buyer purchases in the month of January since the Central Statistics Office, CSO, data series began in 2010. Nearly 20,000 social homes have been added to the social housing stock since this Government came in. That was up to quarter 3 of 2022 and was the highest in many a year. The 2022 social housing figures will reflect that growth, as will 2023 also.

Regarding measures to deal with the people who are facing potential eviction notices, notices to quit and so on, the in situscheme has been expanded. The Minister has established a specific unit to engage with all local authorities so that in the case the Deputy has identified, the council buys that property and adds it to the social housing stock of the council, keeping the tenant in situ. In addition, resources have been provided for 1,000 units to be leased. Money has been allocated to prevent eviction. Nobody in this House is voting for people to be on the streets.

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