Lack of expertise in local authorities is a problem for new housing plan 

There's no evidence that the measures in the Government's new housing plan are sufficient to tackle what is now a full-blown crisis, writes Dr Anthony Leddin

The annual average total of 6,572 social housing units is almost half of the new targets of 12,000 per annum. File photo

The Government's new housing plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025 – 2030, aspires to deliver an average 12,000 new-build social homes per year over a six-year period; that is a total of 72,000 new homes.

Record levels of funding of almost €20 billion will be provided. Over the previous six years €8.1 billion was spent on social housing new-builds. In expenditure terms, the plan is a significant step-up.