Minister Alan Kelly promises a tenfold rise in social housing builds by years end

Environment Minister Alan Kelly has promised a tenfold increase in the number of social houses built before the end of the year.

This means up to 200 homes could be built before the end of December as the department’s own figures show that a total of 20 social houses were built in the first six months of this year by local authorities.

Mr Kelly said: “That figure by the end of the year will be substantially higher; I can assure you it will be substantially higher, up to ten times higher.