It's likely the Government will have to increase their housing targets as the population increases, Housing Minister Darragh O'Brien has said.

Around 100,000 Ukrainian refugees and around 22,500 asylum seekers have arrived in Ireland since January 2022.

The Government is set to exceed its housing targets this year, with almost 30,000 new homes being built.

However, Minister O'Brien conceded that the current targets will have to be increased, with no end in sight for the war in Ukraine.

"We obviously have to ensure that housing delivery continues to increase, and we'll look at other solutions as well for people who are going to be staying here longer," he said.

"I would expect that a lot of our friends from Ukraine, unfortunately because of the illegal invasion of parts of their country, will be staying here in Ireland a lot longer and will make Ieland their home.

"I think that's a good thing," he added.

Tánaiste Micheál Martin speaking with Anton Savage in Newstalk studios, 4-11-23. Image: Newstalk

Earlier Tánaiste Micheál Martin defended the Government's record on housing, saying his party has made a 'big difference'.

"The bottom line is Fianna Fáil are in Government for the last three years now and we've made a big difference on housing," he told The Anton Savage Show.

"It's not enough, we've got to do more.

"Over 30,000 houses were constructed last year, COVID did hit us with the two lockdown, but the momentum is really there now in terms of house construction.

"In terms of social housing, we are building more social houses and delivering more social houses now than we did for decades as a country.

"The last three years has shown a distinctive change in respect of social housing alone," he added.

Additional reporting: Jack Quann

Main image: Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien at a press conference in Dublin Castle in November 2021. Image: Sasko Lazarov / RollingNews.ie