Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien has acknowledged that there will always be “challenges” in hitting house-building targets.
It comes after Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said on Sunday that the target for 2023 was “at risk”
Under the Government’s Housing for All Plan, the Government is aiming to build 28,000 homes.
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In an interview on RTÉ’s The Week in Politics, Mr Varadkar said, “We need to face up to that (targets at risk) and take every action that is possible.
“I’m up for any action that is necessary, working with Darragh O’Brien and our colleagues in government”.
When Mr Varadkar’s comments were put to Minister O’Brien by The Irish Mirror, he acknowledged that hitting targets will remain “challenging”.
“We'll exceed our target this year,” he said.
“There's always challenges in delivery, but we've the plan in place to do that. And it's taking hold.
“We've got to look at how we can further expedite that delivery because we all know we need to be over 30,000 [homes] a year, at least an average of 33,000 and more.
“We have a good sight line on what's coming down the track next year.
“Even this year, we have had the issues with Ukraine and supply chain and that.
“There will always be challenges.
“We have a good robust plan that's fully funded and we know what's on the horizon. “We know what our pipeline is and we're going to do everything we can to make sure we attain those targets.”
When asked if he believed there should be “political consequences for Ministers who fail to miss targets”, Taoiseach Micheál Martin stated that the war in Ukraine has had an impact on housing output.
He said that “events”, such as lockdowns and supply chain issues, can happen and there “has to be prospective”.
“We have to keep the focus on,” he added.
The Taoiseach and Minister O’Brien made the comments at a sod-turning ceremony in Shanganagh, Shankill, south Dublin.
The long-awaited Shanganagh Castle development will contain 100% affordable homes.
Of the 597 homes on the site, 51% will be cost rental (306 homes), 15% affordable purchase (91 homes) and 34% social housing (200 homes).
The development will offer a mix of accommodation suitable for single people, couples, and families with 99 of the new homes having three bedrooms.
It is estimated that the first homes will be available by the end of 2024.
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