Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy made practical points and suggestions. I suggest that he follow up on his detailed proposals directly with the Minister, Deputy James Browne, and Minister of State, Deputy Cummins. In my own role in the Department, I am over housing for the elderly in the context of local authorities.

I will respond to the Deputy's point about An Bord Pleanála. Under the new Planning and Development Act, An Bord Pleanála will have to meet statutory deadlines for the first time ever. That was not the case up to now, the Deputy is correct. It will make an enormous difference.

The Deputy raised other points. The Department will be monitoring. The Deputy is calling for additional points on top of that, for example, a correlation between infrastructure and housing. The Deputy has other moves he would like to see in terms of planning permissions. In the context of the Planning and Development Act, there are changes in terms of applying for extension of planning permissions. That will be facilitated. The Deputy made specific points.

I thank Deputy Timmins for raising these important matters. We are fully committed to delivering social, affordable and cost rental homes at scale. This is being done at a record level, which is being provided with every house in 2025. The overall capital funding now available is almost €6.8 billion, with a further €1.6 billion in current funding to address need. The revised targets and annual profile aligned with the draft revision of the national planning framework applies to approximately 50,000 homes per annum. The target will take account of new homes and pent-up demand.

Now that the revision of the national planning framework has been agreed and published, and noting that it will require approval of the Houses of the Oireachtas, work will commence in terms of working with local authorities and revising their plans in line with the new national planning framework.

It is important to mention that the programme for Government includes a commitment to deliver an average of 12,000 new social homes per year for the lifetime of the Government. We will also engage with local authorities on the individual targets as the work I have outlined today progresses.

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