Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising the issue of housing again, as she does most weeks. The Government is more than aware of the pressures on many families across the country. We made a decision that extending the ban on evictions would make the problem worse, not better, and I believe that was the right decision to make. We are putting billions of euro into ensuring we provide the housing supply that is needed for families who need to find sustainable, secure accommodation, whether that is to purchase affordably or to rent.

Last year, the country built almost 30,000 houses, an increase of 45% on the previous year. Last year, we provided social houses for over 10,000 people. That was also a significant increase on the year before. This year, we are going to do better again. I am not suggesting that the delivery of social and affordable houses and cost-rental accommodation is happening at a fast enough pace right now but it is accelerating all of the time. That is the answer to the question. We need more supply.

When the Deputy raises these questions week after week, I believe I am entitled to raise her credibility and that of her party in relation to the delivery of all types of housing tenure. In Northern Ireland, Sinn Féin has had the two most recent housing Ministers. Does the House know how many social houses were built and completed in the past year in Northern Ireland? It was less than 900. In this jurisdiction, almost 8,000 new social houses were delivered last year. When I became Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government a number of years ago, local authorities in the previous year had built fewer than 100 new social houses. Now, we are seeing 7,500 to 8,000 houses being built and we will deliver significantly more than that this year.

This is a complex and difficult challenge. I know that many households are worried and concerned. There are far too many people homeless in this country. We are responding by increasing supply, which is the answer. The Deputy could help by preventing her party’s councillors across the country from opposing and frustrating developments.

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