New statistics show Wexford has turned a corner on housing

Senator Malcolm Byrne has said that Wexford is turning a corner on housing with over 1,000 new homes on track to be built in the county this year.

Senator Byrne stated that the new statistics on home building and completions show that after a period of undersupply, Wexford has “turned a corner on housing”.

“The public can see that a lot more homes are being built. This includes social housing where we see increasing numbers coming off the Council list. We are also seeing more private housing being built. Fianna Fáil went into government to reinvigorate home construction and we are starting to see the results,” said Senator Byrne.

Senator Byrne pointed to the 3,243 new homes that have been completed in Wexford since 2020 which is a 92 per cent increase from the 1,684 which were completed in the previous four years. In 2023 alone, building started on 907 homes in Wexford which is a 5.5 per cent increase from the same period in 2022 of 859 units.

Based on recent statistics, Senator Byrne pointed out that Wexford people are availing of government policies in these areas.

“In Co. Wexford 1,452 individuals and families have availed of the Help-to-Buy scheme since it started while 70 individuals and families have availed of the First Home Scheme since it was introduced 18 months ago. In the county, there have been 182 applications for the Vacant and Derelict Property Grant and more than 60 approvals so far. The main opposition party want to abolish those last three schemes and leave people without options,” said Senator Byrne.

He added that 195 vacant social homes have been brought back into use in Wexford between 2020 and 2023.

“There continues to be a shortage of rental properties and that makes it difficult for people looking to rent. We need to have Cost Rental schemes in place in Wexford and I have raised this with the County Council. It doesn’t help when some people are demonising landlords and pushing them out of renting. We need more landlords to rent more properties,” said Senator Byrne.

In Co. Wexford, 4,054 renters claimed the renters tax credit for 2022, 2,539 have claimed it for 2023, and 449 have already claimed it for 2024. It was increased by 50 per cent from €500 to €750 this year.

“We are making significant inroads into increasing housing supply. We need to work with and understand the construction industry to do that. Everything to reduce the cost to the home buyer is being explored, including through significant reforms to the planning process now being examined in the Oireachtas. I know we need to do more but there is real progress and the statistics bear that out,” said Senator Byrne.

IT DOESN’T HELP WHEN PEOPLE ARE DEMONISING LANDLORDS AND PUSHING THEM OUT OF RENTING. WE NEED MORE LANDLORDS