Taoiseach Simon Harris has said he expects his prediction that Ireland can build 250,000 new homes between 2025 and 2030 to be in revised Government targets in autumn.
Speaking at a Housing For All update at Government Buildings this morning, he said the figure is "roughly where I expect the landing zone to be".
Mr Harris said in his view "to not lift our scale of ambition would be very underwhelming for people living in box rooms" across the country.
He said he believes the 250,000 new homes by 2030 figure, which he initially outlined in his first Fine Gael national conference speech earlier this month, is the "ballpark figure" he expects.
The Taoiseach separately said he has made the prediction despite confirming he has yet to see the ESRI's updated housing requirements figures for the fourth quarter of this year.
Meanwhile, Green Party leader Eamon Ryan has said he believes it is "not fanciful" to say Ireland can build "up to 50,000 homes" a year in the coming years.
However, he said while "targets are one thing, you need buildings" to show the targets are accurate.
Minister for Housing Darragh O'Brien added that more than 12,000 new homes were built in the first three months of this year.
He said the highest figure is the highest in a decade and up 63% on the same period last year.
Minister O'Brien said 809 approvals have also been made on the Government's First Home Scheme shared equity support scheme in the first three months of this year, and said the policy is helping people to buy homes.
Long-standing plans to limit what properties are allowed to be used as short-term lets will be discussed again by Government in the coming weeks.
Mr O'Brien told reporters this morning that the proposals will be discussed at the next cabinet sub-committee on housing.
He acknowledged delays in implementing new laws to limit what kind of properties can be classed as short term lets in Ireland.
He said he and Minister for Tourism Catherine Martin have had recent discussions with the European Commission on the issue, and that he believes it is still making progress.
"We are going through the draft legislation and regulations of short-term lets, that will mean properties that are not appropriate in the short-term market shouldn't be in the short-term market, they should be in the long term market," he said.
Minister O'Brien said Government has "made progress" on the issue, which he said will help increase long term rental property supply.
Homelessness remains top priority for Housing - O'Brien
Homeless figures remain the "number one challenge" for his department, Minister O'Brien said.
Speaking on RTÉ's Today with Claire Byrne, Mr O'Brien said any fair assessment would show the State is "going in the right direction when it comes to housing".
The Minister said efforts to exit people from homelessness and into permanent homes remains his primary focus.
"It is the number one thing that's on my mind every single day of the week," Mr O'Brien said.
He said he is optimistic that stock is available and local authorities are using existing stock better, and added people are spending less time in emergency accommodation.
"We're exiting more people out of homelessness to permanent secure homes now, but we're still seeing more people come into homelessness for various reasons.
"That remains the number one challenge and that's something we really need to redouble our efforts this year to exit more people from homelessness into permanent homes.
"I think this year will be a very significant year in housing delivery."
Rents still remain too high, Mr O'Brien said, adding that the cost rental scheme must be extended further, but in addition; supply in this market has shrunk, he said.
However he said that a rent freeze was not the solution and would lead to an acceleration of landlords leaving the market.
