Fine Gael in Government delivering Housing for All – Donohoe

Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, and Fine Gael General Election candidate for Dublin Central, Paschal Donohoe TD, has welcomed the housing commencement figures out yesterday (Thursday) saying that Fine Gael in Government is providing the funding and housing solutions to meet our country’s needs.

Minister Donohoe said: ‘Figures today show that almost 50,000 homes (49,007) were commenced in the first nine months of the year, to September 2024. That month alone, more than 11,000 homes (11,385) began construction; more than quadrupling figures on the same month a year ago’.

“Housing has been the defining issue of the last decade, as we fought to overcome the challenges a bust construction sector presented, worked tirelessly to increase supply, grappled with construction and general inflation and an economy at full capacity. We knew the path that lay ahead; we planned for it. By providing record amounts of investment for housing – an unprecedented €5bn this year and €6bn in capital investment next year, which a stable and well managed economy allowed us to do, we now have a really strong pipeline of houses being developed all over Ireland.

“Innovative thinking to encourage construction, and the establishment of a dedicated Land Development Agency, has seen supply really ramp up. As houses come on stream, affordability schemes like Help to Buy and First Homes, which Opposition Parties such as Sinn Fein would abolish, are helping people to realise their dream of full home ownership right across the country. We will continue to focus on getting more houses built, in the areas that people need them, and finish the job in a steady and sustainable way that doesn’t put our economic stability or our future at risk.

“We know that there is still much more to do to provide enough affordable houses for those who need them, but today’s figures are very encouraging and re-affirm the fact that we are going in the right direction.”