‘We have to build more houses’– Martin

Tánaiste Micheál Martin has addressed the housing shortage issue in County Cavan. “We have to b uild more houses and fast,” admitted the Tánaiste during an interview with The Anglo-Celt last Friday.

At that time, only 14 houses were available to rent on Daft.ie, which ranged from a single-bed apartment priced at €700 per month, to a €1600pm home.

Very few were located in the county’s larger towns.

The Tánaiste said the government is making significant headway in combating the issue: “We made good progress last year, we built 13,000 houses, which is 45% more than what we will build in 2021, but we have to build more.”

He believes measures in the next Budget are needed to further increase housing supply.

“We also have to take measures in the Budget to keep landlords in the market and also attract more people to rent out their houses and that will mean a package in the budget to allow us to do that. We’ve had quite a number that left the rental market in the last two years,” he revealed.

Tánáiste Martin believes there are a range of reasons for the current housing crisis.

“The number of first-time buyers has gone way up with the help to buy for the first time scheme; the number of social homes have gone way up, last year we delivered 2,000 social houses, this year we’re targeting 5,000,” he remarked.

During his visit, the Cork native also made reference to modular homes, which he believes will be of huge significance during future builds.

“I think, in time, these houses will point the way for future house building in the country, I think you will see more modern methods of construction happening in the context of social housing and other housing happening already.”