Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien has said he accepts that many people are not feeling the benefit of a property market which the Government claims has turned a corner.
Launching the Respond housing body’s annual report, Mr O’Brien said the housing market has turned a corner but he “certainly” accepts that people are yet to feel the benefit of this.
“I certainly accept that, what I’m reporting is that real significant progress has been made,” he said, adding that there was still “significant work to be done”.
According to its annual report, Respond is on track to triple the number of social and cost-rental homes it has in construction to more than 4,100 in the coming months, expanding its construction programme over the next 12 months to €2 billion.
Respond said it had 608 new social and affordable homes in construction in Dublin, and had delivered 208 new social and cost-rental homes across the county last year.
“I’m acutely aware, particularly for those who are renting, people paying rents way above the odds,” Mr O’Brien said, adding that he intends to increase and expand the Government’s rental tax credit, announced last year. “That’s why we brought in the renters’ tax credit in the budget last year. I want to see that increased and expanded in this year’s budget, that’s a real measure to help with a reduction in rental cost.
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“Fundamentally, there has been a continued problem in the private rental sector, we need to get more supply there,” he said.
“What I’m reporting on is progress, and progress is being made. Acutely aware that there are many yet who don’t feel that, and I get that too, and that’s why we need to redouble our