Question marks hang over Government plans to publish revised housing targets ahead of the general election, as the housing minister revealed the work is “still ongoing”.
Darragh O’Brien was due to publish new housing targets for next year and the years ahead, and was to include aims for social, affordable, rental and private ownership homes.
The Fianna Fáil minister said the work of the National Planning Framework – which will feed into the new targets – has not concluded.
The three coalition leaders, Taoiseach Simon Harris, Tánaiste Micheal Martin and Green Party leader Roderic O’Gorman met with the housing minister earlier this week.
It had been understood that the revised housing targets would be published before the electorate go to the polls.
“We had a good meeting this week – what we need to do is not just set the targets, but show how we can get there,” Mr O’Brien said.
“Also, the National Planning Framework has a big say in that, in relation to how much land we need to (land) zone, our population projections, where we need to build those homes, so the two are actually related. The work is not concluded on that yet.
“We are looking in the range of 50,000 plus. I don’t think that will come as any surprise to people, but it’s important as well that people know how we’re going to get there.
“Some in the opposition (said) they will deliver 60,000 and 70,000. I know as a reality, as someone who took over when we were delivering 20,000 homes a year, the work that has taken to nearly double that output, to hopefully this year, to be on or about 40,000.
“That required serious investment by the state, he Affordable Housing Act, the Land Development Agency Act. It also requires a reform of our planning system.”
Earlier this year, the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) published a report which shows that the state needs to build around 44,000 new homes a year, but the figure did not include estimates for unmet demand.
The Housing Commission later said there is a need for between 15,000 and 25,000 new homes a year to meet unmet demand.
Mr O’Brien said the Planning and Development Bill, recently signed into law, will be the “biggest reform” of the state’s planning system in decades.
“It’ll deliver consistency, certainty and clarity within our planning process, to make it more effective, to help us deliver the homes and the strategic infrastructure that we want,” he added.
“There is still work to be done on the targets, and certainly, as you saw from the ESRI zone report, there were 12 different scenarios within there. So it’s not just an easy one to land, but I think it’s important that people know how we’re going to get there.”
While a date for the general election has not yet been confirmed by Mr Harris, it is expected to take place on Friday, November 29.
The emergency homeless figures are also published on the last Friday of each month.
Mr O’Brien said the release of figures clashing with polling day “wouldn’t come into my mind”.
He added: “The decision on the date itself is, obviously the three leaders will meet on that, and then I’ll be asked to sign the polling day order. And I can genuinely tell you that is absolutely, would have nothing to do… would not come into the consideration.
“The electorate understand how government works. They, most of them, understand the work that we’ve done, and also understand the challenges that are there.
“I’ve said to you very honestly today as well, that homelessness remains the number one challenge. (There is) no question of setting an election date on a different day, or whatever.
“That wouldn’t be part of my consideration.”
