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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 13 to 23, inclusive, together.

The Cabinet committee on housing met yesterday. The committee works to ensure a co-ordinated approach to the implementation of Housing for All and programme for Government commitments regarding housing and related matters. Our latest update on progress achieved under Housing for All was published last Thursday. Despite considerable challenges in the external environment, we are making real progress with new homes and apartments being built all over the country.

Last week, data released by the CSO confirmed that more houses were built last year than in any year since 2008. That is a 15-year high. With more than 32,000 new homes, our target for 2023 has been exceeded. We are confident that this strong momentum will continue, with building under way on almost 33,000 new homes last year, which is up 20% on the previous year. Planning permission data also indicates a strong pipeline, with permission granted for more than 37,600 new homes in the year to the end of September 2023.

Affordability initiatives are having a real impact in helping people to achieve home ownership, with more than 500 first-time buyers or couples drawing down their mortgage each week. This is the highest since 2007.

Almost 2,500 couples and individuals availed of the first home scheme in 2023, while in the 11 months to the end of November 2003, almost 7,000 claimed the help-to-buy scheme to assist with the deposit needed to purchase or build a new home. These schemes will assist thousands more to buy this year.

We are also seeing the benefit of recent measures to bring vacant and derelict homes back into use, with just over 3,000 applications approved for the vacant property refurbishment grant. On State lands, building started on a number of sites during the final months of 2023. This includes almost 2,000 new homes in the Dublin City Council area and over 200 new social and affordable homes at the former Devoy Barracks in Naas. We are also committed to improving the rental market by providing greater security, affordability and viability to tenants and landlords into the future. In addition to the increased rent tax credit, recent measures to bring about more homes to rent include further reform of the fair deal scheme and the Government's new policy to develop more on-campus student accommodation.

Housing for All is working. We are building more homes and we need to press ahead with implementation and maintain this strong momentum into 2024 and beyond.

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