This afternoon Minister Paschal Donohoe announced measures to be taken as part of the governments plan for Budget 2018 in the Dail.

A total of €1.83 billion will be spent on housing in 2018.

On top of this, 3,800 new social homes will be built next year while the Housing Assistance Payment scheme will also be increased by €149 million, supporting another 17,000 households.

Pat Doyle, CEO of Peter McVerry Trust said:

“The additional €18 million funding for homeless services and an increase in the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) in 2018 are particularly welcome. The Housing Assistance Payment scheme is an important element towards alleviating the homeless crisis in 2018, as the results of an accelerated social housing building programme are yet to come on stream.

“We are delighted to see additional funding for TUSLA along with a commitment to fund reduced class sizes at primary level. These measures will result in improved outcomes for vulnerable young people, and will act as long-term homelessness prevention measures.

“Peter McVerry Trust is happy to see an increase in social housing targets up to 2021. However, we would hope that additional funding in 2018 and 2019 would front load the delivery of new capital projects given the deepening housing and homeless crisis.”