Housing targets and affordability
Deputy Cairns criticised the late increase in housing targets and asked how many homes would be affordable. The Taoiseach said the Government had set new targets and would outline the social, affordable and cost-rental breakdown.
On behalf of the Social Democrats I want to acknowledge the passing of David Davin-Power. Our thoughts are with his colleagues, his family and his friends at this time.
The Cabinet finally agreed to increase the housing targets. The housing Minister was supposed to do this back in 2023. Two years late and 48 hours out from the election, he finally gets around to doing it. People can make up their own minds about the cynical way this Government is doing business. I want to know how many of these homes in these revised targets will be affordable. Will the Government be clear about that? I ask the question because it has missed its inadequate social and affordable housing targets every single year. Meanwhile, house prices are in the stratosphere. Since this Government took office, the price of an average home has increased by €85,000. That is more than €20,000 per year.
Is it any wonder that more than half a million adults are living in their childhood bedrooms or that home ownership rates have collapsed to a record low? Can the Taoiseach tell us therefore what portion of the overall housing targets announced today will be affordable homes and homes that people on average incomes can actually buy?
Comment on this
I thank Deputy Cairns very much for raising the question. The Government set the parameters for the housing targets for the next number of years out to 2030 today. That was a sensible thing to do because it does anchor the debate and discussion we will no doubt have in this country in the coming weeks. We also did that alongside the national planning framework because without a draft national planning framework, it is simply not possible to be able to deliver the increased scale of homes required in terms of zoned land. On the breakdown of those targets in social, affordable, cost rental and private, that will be a matter for all parties to put forward their views on what they wish to do in the course of the election. I certainly have mine and I look forward to putting them to the people and I am sure that Deputy Cairns will have her views also.