Harris expects housing predictions to be in Govt targets

Taoiseach Simon Harris has said he expects his prediction that Ireland can build 250,000 new homes between 2025 and 2030 to be in revised Government targets in autumn.

Speaking at a Housing For All update at Government Buildings this morning, he said the figure is “roughly where I expect the landing zone to be”.

Mr Harris said in his view “to not lift our scale of ambition would be very under-whelming for people living in box rooms” across the country.

He said he believes the 250,000 new homes by 2030 figure, which he initially outlined in his first Fine Gael national conference speech earlier this month, is the “ballpark figure” he expects.

The Taoiseach separately said he has made the prediction despite confirming he has yet to see the ESRI’s updated housing requirements figures for the fourth quarter of this year.

Meanwhile, Green Party leader Eamon Ryan has said he believes it is “not fanciful” to say Ireland can build “up to 50,000 homes” a year in the coming years.

However, he said while “targets are one thing, you need buildings” to show the targets are accurate.

Minister for Housing Darragh O Brien added that more than 12,000 new homes were built in the first three months of this year.

He said the highest figure is the highest in a decade and up 63% on the same period last year.

Minister O Brien said 809 approvals have also been made on the Government’s First Home Scheme shared equity support scheme in the first three months of this year, and said the policy is helping people to buy homes.