New Taoiseach Simon Harris said he expects that 250,000 homes can be built in Ireland between 2025 and 2030 and said the ambitious target will be in revised Government targets this autumn.
Speaking at a Housing For All update this morning, the Taoiseach 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.
Mr Harris separately said he has made the prediction despite confirming he has yet to see the ESRI's updated housing requirements figures.
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 figure is the highest in a decade and up 63% on the same period last year.
The Minister 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, adding that the policy is helping people to buy homes.
Long-standing plans to limit what properties are allowed to be used as short-term lets will be also discussed again by Government in the coming weeks at the next cabinet sub-committee on housing.
Minister O’Brien acknowledged delays in implementing new laws to limit what kind of properties can be classed as short term lets in Ireland.
He said he and Minister for Tourism Catherine Martin have had recent discussions with the European Commission on the issue, adding that he believes it is still making progress.
"We are going through the draft legislation and regulations of short-term lets, that will mean properties that are not appropriate in the short-term market shouldn't be in the short-term market, they should be in the long term market," he said.
He added that Government has "made progress" on the issue, which he said will help increase long term rental property supply.
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