Figuring out Leo’s housing figures
The recent interventions by the Taoiseach into the housing debate represent a new low. They have damaged the government’s credibility and caused widespread anger
The government is really struggling with figures on housing and homelessness. Unfortunately, this problem isn’t new.
Back in 2016, when Simon Coveney was housing minister, he controversially claimed that house completions had hit 15,000 per year. A long list of academics, economists and industry figures strongly disagreed, putting the number closer to 7,500.
Coveney and his successor Eoghan Murphy have also struggled with homeless figures. Both have refused to publish a comprehensive list ...
