Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 15 February 2024
99. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of new houses completed in each of south County Dublin and Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown in 2023; the number commenced; his expectations for 2024 with regard to construction activity in the residential sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6674/24]
View answer112. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of new houses completed in each of Limerick, Clare and Tipperary in 2023; the number commenced; his expectations for 2024 with regard to construction activity in the residential sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6670/24]
View answer136. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of new houses completed in Carlow in 2023; the number commenced; his expectations for 2024 with regard to construction activity in the residential sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6666/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 99, 112 and 136 together.
There has been a substantial uplift in the amount of new homes delivered since the launch of Housing for All in 2021.
The final quarter last year was the fourth successive quarter with rolling 12-month completions surpassing 30,000 dwellings, with some 32,695 new homes delivered over the full year. This is the highest level of new home delivery in the last 15 years, some 10% higher than in 2022 and 13% higher than the Housing for All target of 29,000 for 2023.
The outlook for this year and next is equally promising.
The commencement of some 32,800 new homes in 2023, an increase of 21% year-on-year, suggests the substantial uplift in supply over the past 24 months will be sustained into 2024 and beyond. Indeed, initial forecasts suggest this year's target of 33,450 new homes will be met, with some commentators suggesting it might even be surpassed by one thousand or so new homes.
And this progress is being mirrored at local level around the country.
In 2023, 3,575 new homes were commenced in South Dublin, an increase of 27% on the same period in 2022 and the highest number of annual commencements since the data series began in 2014. Completions in South Dublin also increased significantly, up 85% from 1,747 in 2022 to 3,238 in 2023.Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown has also seen continued robust commencement activity in 2023, with 2,276 new homes commenced, a slight increase of 1% on 2022. At the same time, 3,563 new homes were completed, a 32% increase on the 2,709 new homes delivered in 2022.In Carlow, 394 new homes were commenced in 2023, a 60% increase year-on-year, while 244 new homes were completed, up 6% on 2022 delivery.
Limerick saw 795 new homes commenced, the second highest annual level recorded since the data series began in 2014. At the same time, almost 800 homes were completed, a recent record high.
There were some 563 new homes commenced in Clare, an increase of 66% year-on-year. Meanwhile, more than 400 homes were delivered, bringing the number of new homes completed over the last three years to 1,375.
Some 500 new homes were commenced in Tipperary, the first time in the last decade commencements topped the 500 mark. Similarly, completion levels increased significantly to 517 new homes in 2023, a 23% year-on-year increase.
Increased supply is key to meeting our housing needs and addressing the challenges in the housing market – supply is increasing and output in 2022 and 2023 shows we’re on the right track. Indeed, sectoral forecasts for next year suggest new home delivery will be at its highest level for many years, with some already forecasting that the Housing for All target of 33,450 could be surpassed by as many as one 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.
