Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions
Dail Éireann — 2026-04-29
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Micheál Martin (FF), Cork South-Central

We need that war to end. We have built about 170,000 houses since 2020 and 50,000 apartments have been built. There were 8,000 permissions in quarter 4 of 2025, up 20%, and 20,000 houses were granted permission in 2025, which is the highest number since 2009. Commencement notices were up 184% in quarter 1 of 2026. Real dwelling investment was up by close to 20% in the first three quarters of 2025. Construction employment was at 191,000 at the end of 2025. That is up 30% since 2019 and 12% year on year. The Home Building Finance Ireland, HBFI, loan book has grown by 25% to €3.2 billion. We have announced the €1 billion housing infrastructure investment fund, which is also doing very well. I can go through all of the various investments that the State is putting into this. Nearly 59,000 social houses have been added since July 2020. It is significant that 60% of all mortgages drawn down now are first-time buyers. That matters. I would not dismiss it like the Deputy tried to in her opening remarks.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-04-29/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-09-21T01:01:08+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-04-29