Government misses social and affordable housing targets for 2023

Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien has missed his social and affordable housing targets for 2023, new figures have shown.

The long-awaited figures for the fourth quarter of 2023 were published on Thursday morning.

In 2023, 11,939 new social homes were delivered by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies, including 8,110 new-build homes, 1,830 acquisitions and 1,999 homes through leasing programmes.

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The 2023 target for social homes was 13,130. In total, there were 11,939. Within the social housing targets, there were several sub-targets.

For example, the target for new-build social homes was 9,100. The actual number built was 8,110. The target for leasing was 2,530, while the actual number was 1,999. The target for the acquisition of social homes was, however, exceeded with 1,830 homes compared to 1,500. The target for 2023 for affordable homes was also not met. The target for the year was 5,500 but just 4,011 were completed. This consisted of 3,045 affordable homes and 966 cost rental homes.

The figures show that 7,132 new social homes were delivered by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies in quarter four, including 5,472 new-build homes, 801 acquisitions and 859 homes delivered through leasing programmes.

Minister O’Brien said that the figures show there is “momentum” in housing given the increase in delivery on 2022 figures. Social housing output in 2023 was up 16 per cent on 2022.

He said: “It is clear that the momentum we could see building last year has continued and intensified. In 2022, we were able to hail the best social housing provision since the ‘70s and in 2023 we performed even better with a 16 per cent increase in the number of homes delivered. I know that today we are talking about the numbers but behind these figures lies the fact that this delivery is providing valuable life-changing support to tens of thousands of our citizens and I intend to keep this momentum going.

“Last year’s increases were driven by the fact that my Department has worked closely with the local government sector, directly with local authorities and through the County and City Management Association (CCMA) and the LGMA’s Housing Delivery Coordination Office (HDCO). This has enabled us to identify blockages in the system that we have worked hard to systematically remove around areas such as funding for additional staff, enhancements to the approvals process and legacy debt issues. It is now clear to see where those efforts have started to materialise into delivery at the scale that is required.

“The initial acquisition target we set ourselves of 200 was revised upwards to 1,500 in March 2023 and I am pleased to say that was exceeded by 22 per cent meaning thousands of people, families and individuals, are safe and secure in their home for life.

“Undoubtedly different local authorities face different challenges and it is clear that there is no one-size-fits all solution.

“For that reason, engagement and ongoing collaboration have been key to getting us to where we are now. Maintaining this will also be critical to our efforts to realise the ambitious overall Housing for All targets that were originally set out in 2021 - as well as our collective ability to respond to increased targets that we know are coming."

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