Challenges exist around housing affordability, O’Brien says

By Cillian Sherlock, PA

The Government is still dealing with “challenges” around housing affordability, a minister has said.

It comes after the latest figures from the CSO revealed that residential property prices have risen by 10.1 per cent in the year to August.

Defending what he described as progress made during the lifetime of the Government, Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien conceded “challenges remain” around affordability.

The minister was speaking to the media while visiting the Church Fields affordable housing development in Mulhuddart, Dublin, on Friday, where he said homes were available from €263,000.

He said: “We need to get supply up. When I took over as minister, this State was building about 20,000 homes a year. This year, I’m projecting it will be in the high 30,000-40,000.”

He added that the Government was dealing with more than a decade of unmet and pent-up demand.

Mr O’Brien said: “I’m confident now we really have turned a corner on housing delivery and we’re seeing the momentum around the country.”