Housing Provision
Dail Éireann — 2026-10-01
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James Browne (FF), Wexford

I again thank the Deputy for his important questions on affordable homes to buy and cost-rental units. As he knows, Laois has an excellent record of delivering homes. It is one of the stronger counties. It is benefiting from taking the lead in delivering homes. It will benefit in the medium and long term economically as well as enjoy the key benefit of providing roofs over people's heads. I wish every local authority would deliver homes at the rate of Laois. Nonetheless, we know we have an awful lot more to do. We need to work harder in collaboration with Laois because people in the county continue to be under pressure to get a housing solution for their needs.
I very much hear the concerns, proposals and ideas of the Deputy. We want to ensure that everybody can access a home they can afford, be that social, affordable or private delivery. It is important that people are able to stay in their local communities. The Deputy referred to people commuting. I want people to be able to stay in their local communities. That is why, for example, we are changing the rules for rural one-off housing. The Deputy provided examples of people living in towns because they cannot live in the rural areas where they grew up and where their families are, and drive to work on farms or to look after their family. I acknowledge that we have more work to do, but we are making significant changes and differences and will continue to work on that.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-10-01/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-10-05T01:01:00+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-10-01