Up to 53,000 homes a year needed to match population growth, says O’Callaghan

The latest report from the ESRI has highlighted that the Government’s targets are not nearly ambitious enough to tackle to housing crisis, according to Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan.

The Dublin Bay North TD was responding to a report from the ESRI that shows that Ireland needs to build between 35,000 and 53,000 homes a year in order to keep up with population growth.

He notes that the report does not account for the “massive” pent-up demand for housing in Ireland.

Housing was a major issue in the 2020 general election and was a factor in the recent local elections.

The Housing Commission has estimated that the demand for housing in Ireland could be as high as 256,000.

O’Callaghan remarked that the government are “busy patting themselves on the back for meeting last year’s inadequate target” and has allowed the demand for housing to become pent-up.

“We’ve now had two major pieces of research from the Housing Commission and the ESRI, both clearly stating that the housing targets urgently need to be increased,” he said.

“The Government should be well aware that their targets are inadequate. As they approach the end of their term, house prices, rents and homelessness are all skyrocketing.

“The dogs on the street could tell you that the Government’s housing plan is failing.”

He called on Taoiseach Simon Harris to publish revised targets before the Dáil goes on summer recess this month.

“We have the data, we know the demand, so there is no good reason to wait until October.”