Dáil debates
Thursday, 26 October 2023
Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions
12:00 pm
-----over the last five years. It is, therefore, about time Sinn Féin came forward with substance and not empty rhetoric and sound bites. The fact of the matter is that the Government does have the most comprehensive housing plan, and I have said that before. I do not see that comprehensive plan in any policy document Sinn Féin has produced in respect of that.
If we look at, for example, social housing, more than 10,000 social homes were delivered last year in 2022, which is the highest level of social housing delivery in decades. This year, we aim to deliver nearly 12,000 social homes, including 9,100 new-build homes. There is a strong pipeline of more than 22,000 social homes either on site or at design and tender stage. In 2024, we have funding in place to deliver more than 11,600 social homes, including 9,300 new builds. Since 2020, 30,000 new social homes have been added to the social housing stock, including 19,000 new builds.
There are now approximately 2,500 tenant in situ purchases progressing at various stages. In respect of cost-rental houses, for example, there has been a dramatic provision and affordability. To be fair to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, he has come forward with a variety of programmes and investments that outrival anything Sinn Féin has produced. Sinn Féin does not have substance in its policies. It has been anti-young-first-time buyer and covered it up. There is camouflage over it. However, if we go through the detail of how Sinn Féin has performed in this House over the last three years when various pieces of housing legislation have come before it, Sinn Féin opposed anything that would help young first-time buyers.
Sinn Féin opposed anything that would help young first-time buyers, and we now have more first-time buyers drawing down mortgages this year and last year than we have had for many a day.
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