Micheál Martin: 'Jury is out' on whether State will increase housebuilding this year

Micheál Martin meeting Hilary Clinton in New York on Tuesday. The Tánaiste said the Government hoped to reach 12,000 social homes this year. Picture: The Department of Foreign Affairs

Tánaiste Micheál Martin has said “the jury is out” on whether the State will build more houses this year than last year and insisted the Government had “turned a corner” on home building.

Mr Martin, speaking to reporters in New York, also poured cold water on the introduction of pre-budget tax breaks for landlords, saying there cannot be a “knee-jerk” reaction.