Taoiseach concedes housing shortfall but insists 50,000 homes a year is achievable

The Taoiseach said stronger investment conditions could drive housing supply higher, while confirming a St Patrick’s Day White House visit

Taoiseach Micheal Martin walking through Enniscorthy in County Wexford, as he meets families affected by the recent flooding. Picture: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has conceded that Ireland did not build enough homes last year but argued there is a “tangible, realistic prospect” of delivering 50,000 homes a year.

The Central Statistics Office (CSO) confirmed last week that 36,284 homes were completed last year, falling short of the previous Government housing target of 41,000 for 2025.

That figure is also well below the 50,000 to 60,000 homes experts say are needed to meet demand as prices continue to rise.

Mr Martin told Newstalk’s The Claire Byrne Show that the delivery of 36,000 homes was “significant” and denied it was “wildly off” the Government’s previous housing targets.

“We're doing 36,000 homes [last year], and I accept it's not enough,” the Taoiseach said.

“But the key is, how do we get to the 50,000? We need private sector investment with public sector investment.

“Getting to that 36 [thousand] means there is a tangible, realistic prospect now of getting that up again and getting a consistent completion rate for the next 10 years, which is what we require for the growing population.” 

He continued: “We're not in a position […] The State will never fund the entirety of what is required for housing to get to the 50,000 per annum.

“We are funding a lot through the public sector, but we need more private sector, and particularly in apartment buildings.

“The VAT reduction in the budget, the apartment guidelines issue more zoning that we've instructed local authorities to do in terms of zoning more land for housing. All of that is contributing to a better environment for investment in housing.” 

Mr Martin also defended the introduction of new rental reforms from March 1, which will bring all properties under Rent Pressure Zone (RPZ) legislation. The changes will also allow landlords to increase rents every six years or when tenants voluntarily leave their tenancy.

The opposition has warned that the measures could lead to sharp rent increases and encourage landlords to leave the market to avoid six-year tenancies.

Mr Martin said the changes “have to be introduced” after the Housing Commission found RPZs were too “ad hoc” and that the market needed “clarity and certainty.” 

Separately, the Taoiseach confirmed that for St Patrick's Day in March, adding that the engagement was arranged through “soundings” rather than a formal invitation.

He defended travelling to the US, saying that “trading with countries doesn't mean you endorse a political viewpoint or endorse a particular party in government,” and noted that Mr Trump had “pulled back” from threats to annex Greenland.

“President Donald Trump operates differently to previous leaders in terms of style and approach,” he said.

“The bottom line is, Europe didn't concede anything of a fundamental nature in terms of the sovereignty or territorial integrity of Denmark or indeed of Greenland.

“There is now a framework and a dialogue of engagement, and that tends to be the approach across many, many different issues.

“It's challenging, and it's different in terms of the European Union/United States engagement in many areas.”