Almost 670 new social and cost-rental homes were delivered by the State’s largest approved housing body last year.
According to the Respond annual report, there will be a record of 4,000 new social and cost-rental homes under construction by the end of the year.
It said the milestone represents a threefold increase in its home-building programme over the past year.
Respond currently has almost 2,300 new social and cost rental homes in development at 21 sites nationwide.
According to its report, Respond started construction on a further 669 homes last year and has delivered housing projects on the Long Mile Road in Dublin, as well as in Fingal, Cork and Galway.
The housing body now manages 7,700 properties in 26 counties and provides accommodation for some 17,000 tenants.
Mother-of-two Savanna Mati is among those to benefit from Respond housing.
Ms Mati was on a housing waiting list with her family for six years when she was offered a home by Respond.
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She attended the launch of the report with her 18-month-old son, Roman.
Asked about her life in Stepaside and her experience with Respond, she said: “It’s great, everyone is so helpful, even Respond itself.
“If there’s any problems, like a leaky tap, or a boiler problem, or anything, they’re on the phone 24/7 and they will have someone coming out to see us really quickly, so stuff like that is great.
“The community is great as well. We’re in the middle of organising a youth club, so some of us are getting garda vetted. We are also going to be volunteering once a month for the pre-teens and teens.
“Halloween is coming up, there’s going to be a fancy dress, arts and crafts and stuff in the community centre and before that, there were DIY classes for adults, there are fitness classes, and there’s actually going to be some CPR training soon.”
She added: “We were actually quite fortunate (in getting a house). I know everyone else isn’t. We got ours based on a medical basis, because my partner has CF (cystic fibrosis), so ours is kind of a little bit different, but I know how hard it is and it was hard until my partner’s CF team got on board.
“I’d say we would probably still be on the list at this stage if we didn’t get that extra push from the CF team.
“Nowadays, it’s so difficult, and thank God we weren’t on the homeless accommodation.
“I know for some it feels like nothing is happening at the moment, that nothing’s in your favour, but you just have to keep the faith. It will happen. It’s probably going to take longer.
“Without Respond we wouldn’t get a place.”
Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien said: “We had a very strong year on delivery last year, 2023 we delivered more new social homes than we have done in over 50 years and affordable homes as well.
“This year’s delivery will be even stronger. We couldn’t do that without the approved housing body sector and I think Respond are exemplary on how to do that.
“Ground up development, adding additional stock, they have been a leader on the delivery of cost rental.
“We have over 2,000 tenancies in place, long-term secure tenures with below market rent.
“We will attain our social housing new build target and we will exceed our affordable target of 6,400.”