Demand requires 600,000 new homes over next nine years, says Ahern

ANOTHER 600,000 new homes will have to be built over the next nine years to meet housing demand it was claimed yesterday.

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment Noel Ahern said such large scale development presented a challenge for all stakeholders including the Government, despite record levels of construction activity in recent years.

Addressing the National Housing Conference in Santry yesterday, Mr Ahern said some levelling of supply was expected over the next few years after a record 93,400 housing units (including apartments) were completed in 2006.