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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 56 and 62 together. In Cavan, 309 social homes were delivered through build, acquisition and lease since the formation of the Government to the end of quarter two of 2024, of which 216 were new-build homes. During the same period, 41 affordable homes were delivered. In Monaghan, 485 social homes were delivered through build, acquisition and lease since the formation of the Government to the end of quarter two of 2024, of which 353 were new-build homes. During the same period, 33 affordable homes were delivered. The quarter two social housing construction status report shows both local authorities have strong pipelines and between them have 660 new-build social homes either on site or at design and procurement stages.

A central element of Housing for All is to build institutional capacity. As part of the measures to support increasing that capacity, Housing for All commits to strengthening the capacity of local authorities, and it is doing that, to both programme manage and initiate, design, plan, develop and manage housing projects. It recognises that this requires the resourcing of the housing services of local authorities. Both Cavan and Monaghan received sanction to fill additional posts. Additional resources were also allocated to the Housing Agency project and procurement office to support local authorities and approved housing bodies deliver housing. I have visited Cavan and Monaghan on a number of occasions and have been very struck by the work both local authorities have done on conversion of vacant properties. An example is Fermanagh Street in Clones in Monaghan where exceptional work has been done with the delivery of housing for seniors. The completion and build out of what were previously ghost or unfinished estates is another example. I have been in the Deputy's constituency a number of times to view them. I am not sure if I have met her on any of my visits. She was certainly invited and is very welcome to come again. That is not a criticism because all of us are working hard to deliver those additional homes. I commend both local authorities on the work they are doing. We are providing the resources for them to do more. As I said in response to Deputy Wynne, I expect that there will be additional asks of our local authorities to deliver more social homes in 2025 and 2026 to the end of the decade. Last year, we built more new social homes than had been done in 50 years. That is not to say everything is resolved. Of course, it is not. There is certainly more that needs to be done in that space. Progress is being made and we want to step that up further. I am very confident because of the excellent people I have met on the ground in Deputy Tully's constituency. Two excellent housing teams and excellent management teams in the local authorities are really innovating in their delivery. From the larger towns in Cavan and Monaghan to the smaller villages, I see social housing being delivered. Of course, we want to scale that up and we will do that. We will continue to work very closely with our local authorities and approved housing bodies, which are a very important deliverer of social housing. Some Deputies in this House - not Deputy Tully - would question delivery by approved housing bodies but that it is a different type of social home. I can tell the House that when I see the excellent homes that are built through approved housing bodies and local authorities to the highest standards and meet the families getting the keys for their homes for life, I can see what a difference that makes to them. We need to do more and we will do more. I am confident that we can do more.

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