Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 December 2023
7. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the number of housing commencements and completions in Carlow to date in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53847/23]
View answer76. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how many new homes have been completed so far this year; how many new homes have seen construction start; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53855/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 7 and 76 together.
At its core, Housing for All is about significantly increasing the supply of housing of the right type, in the right place, and at an affordable price.
To this end, the plan comprises a suite of priority measures to transform our housing system, secure its sustainability into the future and support the delivery of more than 300,000 new homes by 2030. This will see an average of 33,000 new homes delivered for each year of the plan, rising to more than 40,000 per year by the end of the decade.
Since Housing for All was launched in 2021, there has been a substantial uplift in the amount of new homes being delivered, with some 29,750 new homes delivered in 2022. And, despite the significant economic headwinds over the past 12 to 18 months, new supply has gone from strength to strength. More than 22,400 new homes have been delivered between January and September this year, more than that delivered in the whole of 2019, 2020 or 2021.
The outlook for next year is equally promising, with the substantial increase in supply this year and last expected to be maintained into 2024. Already this year, between January and October, some 26,500 or so new homes have commenced construction nationwide, an increase of 16.5% on the same period last year.
This progress is being mirrored at local level around the country. More than 150 new homes have been completed in Carlow between January and September, on par with delivery in 2021 and 2022.
At the same time, more than 380 new homes have been commenced in Carlow this year to end-October. This is an increase of 62% on the same period last year and more than in any calendar year since the data series commenced in 2014.
With rolling 12-month commencements continuing to increase month-on-month since their dip in mid-2022, I am optimistic we will reach next year's target of 33,450 new homes. Indeed, sectoral forecasts for next year suggest new home delivery will be at its highest level for many years, with some already forecasting that that figure could be surpassed by around a thousand new homes in 2024.
Housing for All is clearly delivering and I am confident the funding and targeted schemes committed to under plan will continue to support an increasing supply of affordable housing across all tenures, whether social, private rented or private purchase.
