Housing output shows Government 'just not serious' about crisis, says Ó Broin

'In the first quarter of this year, just 32 affordable homes were completed across four local authorities', the Sinn Féin housing spokesperson said

The Government missed its own social and affordable housing targets last year, with a total of 11,939 homes delivered across 2023. Picture: Getty

The Government has been accused of failing to deliver affordable homes, with just 32 units completed in this first quarter of this year.

Just four of the country's 31 local authorities delivered affordable homes in the first three months of 2024.

Sinn Féin's housing spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin said the coalition is "just not serious" about delivering affordable homes at scale and in every part of the country.

"In the first quarter of this year, just 32 affordable homes were completed across four local authorities including Cork city, Fingal, Louth, and South Dublin. 27 of the State's 31 local authorities did not complete a single affordable home in Q1 of this year," he said.

Mr Ó Broin added: "What this demonstrates is that, as with last year's affordable housing output, the Government is failing to deliver affordable homes. In 2023, 19 local authorities did not deliver a single affordable home to purchase.

Not only are the Government's targets too low and not being met, but many parts of the country are being left behind

"This is one of the main reasons why house prices are continuing to rise and an entire generation of young people are unable to put an affordable roof over their head."

The Government also missed its own social and affordable housing targets last year, with a total of 11,939 homes delivered across 2023 — including new-builds, acquisitions, and leasing.

This was below the targets contained within the Government's flagship Housing for All plan, which sought to deliver 13,130 social homes in 2023.

Sinn Féin spokesperson on housing Eoin Ó Broin said: 'In 2023, 19 local authorities did not deliver a single affordable home to purchase.' Picture: Leah Farrell/Rollingnews.ie

However, it is an increase on the total number of social homes built in 2022 — where 10,263 social houses were completed.

The latest figures for the first quarter of 2024 do, however, show that 809 units were delivered under the Government's First Home Scheme.

The €480m shared-equity scheme was set up to help first-time buyers and is a joint venture between the State and three banks: AIB, BOI, and PTSB.

The highest number of First Home Scheme properties were in Fingal, with 127 provided in the first three months, Cork County Council delivered 87 under the scheme, while Meath County Council delivered 72.

There has been significant interest in the scheme, which the Government recently extended.

The ceiling price for homes has also been increased in 14 counties to help first-time buyers

All new homes in Ireland worth up to €350,000 are now eligible for the scheme, irrespective of location, with price ceilings of €500,000 in areas of greatest demand.

More than 4,000 buyers in 25 counties have been approved under the scheme to date, with 1,517 using it to purchase a property.

The new price ceilings introduced earlier this month mean buyers in Limerick are now able to avail of the support for houses costing up to €425,000, while those in Kerry and Tipperary can avail of the support on properties up to €350,000.

Meanwhile, grants for 150 homes that have been brought back into use through the Vacant Property Refurbishment grant were paid out in the first quarter of the year.

A total of 38 homes were also maintained through the Cost Rental Tenant In-Situ scheme.