Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am very pleased that we have an opportunity today to discuss one of the largest and biggest social issues we face in this country, which is the housing challenge and making sure everyone in Ireland can have a roof over their heads, the young generation can aspire to own their own homes and parents can see their adult children move out of the box rooms in their homes and into homes with the security and certainty that brings for them and their futures.

It is important to say that any fair analysis of the situation would show progress when it comes to housing supply. We see it in every town and village in every county. Housing supply is increasing. We have seen 337 new homes commence construction every working day in Ireland. Those are incredible figures. In fact, this year so far, we have seen more than 30,000 new homes commence construction.

I am conscious that when it comes to a housing debate, we could get lost in figures and statistics. Of course, behind each of these new homes is the opportunity for hope and security for a couple or family and their futures. In fact, in Ireland now, approximately 500 couples every single week are drawing down their mortgages. However, it is absolutely true to say that every single day, Government is restless to do more and wants to do more. Government wants to hear new ideas about how we can continue to make progress. That is why we set up a Housing Commission. We wanted to bring together 12 people from very different perspectives and backgrounds to ask them to come forward with ideas. Deputies might remember what the Housing Commission was about. It was about enabling us to plan out to 2050 in Ireland so that we move beyond this boom-and-bust scenario where in some years, many homes are built and in others, none are built, to a situation where we have once and for all a sustainable long-term approach to housing. We asked it to do a body of work and it has done it. It has now submitted a report that is more than 400 pages long and has 83 recommendations and more than 500 actions and sub-actions. A terribly good thing to do when somebody does three years' worth of work would be for people to read the report before they decide what it says.

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