Social housing: Total number built is abysmal

Politicians on both sides of the row over whether most social housing is being built by local authorities or private builders are missing the point.

The Department of Housing confirmed last month that the total number of houses built by local authorities in 2017 was 780.

However, 386 were bought directly from a builder or developer, on a build, design and finance basis.

Fianna Fáil spokesperson for housing Darragh O’Brien described as a serious problem the fact that almost half of social houses are being delivered simply by a local authority purchasing houses from a builder.

Green Party Councillor Patrick Costello has said the new figures show the Government is ‘grossly exaggerating’ the level of local authority building activity.

Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy has denied that the number of social houses built by local authorities has been overstated and says critics are “splitting hairs”.

He has a point. In any event, it hardly matters to the family in need of a house whether the council built it directly or contracted a builder to do it.

What matters is the total number of social housing delivered in 2017, by whatever means.

At 780, that figure is abysmal. Fianna Fáil and the Greens should concentrate their efforts on criticising that and holding the Government to account.