Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I assure Deputy Quinlivan that the most efficient way to deal with this and what people want is extra supply. What people want is more homes and they are being built through Housing For All, the Minister's plan. The latest CSO data on planning permission dating back to 7 December show that nationally, 9,662 dwelling units were granted planning permission in quarter three 2023, an increase of 43.3% on the same quarter in 2022. Residential planning permission granted for January to September 2023 is up 13% on the same period last year. Reflecting the importance of Housing For All and the fact that it is delivering, a record €5.1 billion in capital investment in housing was announced in budget 2024. This is made up of €2.6 billion in Exchequer funding, €978 million in the Land Development Agency and €1.5 billion in the Housing Finance Agency. As already stated, the number of new homes delivered last year, at 32,695, was the highest in 15 years. We are committed to continuing to increase that supply.

I will ask the Minister to look at the situation with regard to homeless services in Limerick and why, in the context of €242 million, there is pressure there. I acknowledge and endorse the tributes Deputy Quinlivan paid to everybody involved in addressing the homelessness issue, not just in Limerick but also across the country.

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