James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)

We will deliver more social and affordable homes. To get the numbers up to 50,000 or 60,000, however, we have to get the private sector to deliver. The State simply does not have that level of funding.

The changes approved by Government last week regarding new policy measures to support the rental sector by strengthening tenancy protections and security of tenure will provide significantly stronger protection for tenants and are finely balanced between the interests of tenants and the need for further investment in the rental market. Ultimately, we aim to improve the situation for renters by increasing the supply of rental and private accommodation, social accommodation and affordable accommodation. The measures providing greater certainty of protection from no-fault evictions will also be a critical intervention in preventing homelessness.

Addressing homelessness is a top priority for this Government. Funding of €303 million will be available for the delivery of homeless services in 2025. This will ensure that local authorities can provide emergency accommodation, homeless prevention and tenancy sustainment services, including housing first and other services to households experiencing or at risk of homelessness. It will also ensure that these households in emergency accommodation are supported to exit homelessness as quickly as possible.

Expanded significantly under Housing for All, the housing first programme provides the most vulnerable of our homeless population with a home for life, as well as key wrap-around health services and social supports to help them. The housing first national implementation plan aims to create 1,319 tenancies by the end of 2026. The programme for Government increased this target to create a total of 2,000 tenancies by 2030. More than 860 tenancies were created under the current plan up to the end of quarter 1 of 2025. A total of 1,060 individuals were in a housing first tenancy.

Tenant in situ acquisitions are recognised as a key measure in the prevention of homelessness. As such, I reassert the Government's commitment to the continuation-----

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