Sinn Féin spokesperson on Housing, Eoin Ó Broin TD, has said that the government is on course to miss their social and affordable housing targets for 2024.

The Dublin Mid-West TD’s comments were made in response to the Department of Housing’s Q3 social and affordable housing delivery report, published today.

Teachta Ó Broin said:

“The Department of Housing has today published their social and affordable housing delivery report for the third quarter of this year. The report shows that the government is way behind on their social and affordable targets.

“Just 2119 of the promised 9300 new-build social homes were completed by the end of September. Given that this is just 23% of the target, it is hard to see how the remaining 77% of units will be completed in just three months to December.

“Just 417 of the promised 2000 affordable-purchase homes were completed by the end of September. Given that this is just 24% of the target, it is also hard to see how the remaining 76% of the units will be completed by the end of the year.

“Just 826 of the promised 2400 cost-rental units have been delivered by the LDA and AHBs by September, only 24% of the target. Even with a significant increase in the delivery of these units in the last quarter, it is hard to see them making up the 64% shortfall in that time.

“Even the government’s controversial First Home Scheme is significantly behind target, with just 1118 drawdowns in the first nine months of this year, from a target of 2000.

“It is also unfortunate that the Department of Housing has once again released the social and affordable data in a deliberately misleading manner, and at a time that will significantly reduce scrutiny of the figures.

“However, what is clear is that the government is on course to miss their social and affordable housing targets again this year.

“The government’s failure to meet their targets directly contributes to rising house prices, rising rents and rising homelessness.

“Today’s report is further evidence, if it were needed, that Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have neither the policies nor the political will to tackle the housing crisis.

“Without a radical reset of housing policy, as set out in Sinn Féin’s alternative housing plan, the housing crisis will only get worse.”