The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien, has emphasised that the level of social and affordable housing will continue to grow as he published data for social and affordable homes delivered in Q4 2022 and 2022 overall. The Minister pointed to a strong pipeline with over 19,000 social homes either onsite or at design and tender stage. 5,500 affordable homes will be delivered in 2023.

The figures show 10,263 social homes were delivered in 2022 through build, acquisition and leasing. This represents an 11.9% increase on 2021 figures, when 9,169 social homes were provided. The 2022 output represents the highest annual output of social homes in decades.

Of the 10,263 social homes delivered, 7,433 were new-build, a 43% increase on 2021 figures. This is the highest number of new-build social homes delivered since 1975.

Affordable housing delivery figures were also published today and show that 1,757 homes were delivered in 2022 through Cost Rental, the First Home Scheme and the Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme. Through Housing for All, the government’s housing plan, the government has re-introduced affordable housing opportunities. Housing for All has put affordability at the heart of our housing plans. 2,800 affordable homes have already been approved in respect of 42 specific projects across 15 local authority areas with €210 million committed under the Affordable Housing Fund.

Commenting on the figures, Minister O’Brien said, “these figures show social housing supply is increasing and that we are going in the right direction. It is encouraging to see the highest level of social housing delivery in decades, despite unforeseen challenges like high construction cost inflation due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. It is also heartening to see the level of delivery in the first full year of affordable housing provision. Schemes like Cost Rental, First Home and the Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme are in their infancy but have already delivered 1,757 homes and are making a real difference to people’s lives. I know that people want to and need to see further delivery and that is what we are going to do.”

“Whilst this news is positive, the government recognises that we need to continue ramping up supply. That is why government colleagues and I remain focused on delivering Housing for All, which contains the right mix of ambition, guaranteed funding, reform, new initiatives and stability of policy to support the delivery of social and affordable housing. The pipeline is strong, with over 19,000 social homes either onsite or at design and tender stage. This year we will also continue to deliver affordable homes and have targeted 5,500 through our local authorities, the Land Development Agency, the First Home Scheme and our new form of tenure, Cost Rental. We will continue to implement the plan whilst remaining open to introducing new measures where needed to address new and emerging challenges.”

The 2022 social and affordable housing provision data is available on the department’s website.