Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

To answer Deputy Murnane O'Connor's question, to the end of September of this year, 289 new homes commenced in Carlow. This is an increase of 26% on the same period in 2022 and the highest number of commencements in Carlow for this period since the data series began in 2014. With three months of the year still remaining, commencements so far this year already exceed the second highest number for Carlow since 2014. This will be a record-breaking year for the Deputy's county of Carlow. Similar progress is being made in Longford and Westmeath. Other Deputies are tied to this question but they are not present.

I have had the pleasure of visiting Carlow with the Deputy. There is a very strong social housing pipeline and the Croí Cónaithe scheme is working very well. Those schemes are not counted in those commencement figures. We should and will look at capturing those because they are new homes and affordable homes coming back in and there is a €50,000 or €70,000 grant there as well. Things like the development levy waiver, which the Members opposite in Sinn Féin opposed, and waiving the Uisce Éireann connection charge have had a real effect in boosting commencements in the middle of this year. It is saving homeowners money, putting money back into their pockets and making it more affordable for them.

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