Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

No, I do not accept that. We are making real progress and we need to build on the progress that has been made to date. These are ambitious targets. Let us not forget that we met our key target to build more new homes of different types last year. We built roughly 30,000 new homes in Ireland last year, exceeding our target. It should be borne in mind that this does not include student accommodation or derelict homes being brought back into use. We exceeded that target last year and we are working towards meeting it again this year as well.

In terms of social housing, 7,500 new homes were built last year by local authorities, approved housing bodies and through Part 5. That is the highest number in decades. It is a significant achievement. Does the Deputy perhaps know how many social homes were built the last time there was a Labour Party Minister with responsibility for housing?

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