Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said that his party did not give false housing figures before the election and that the expected number of completions were "a genuine belief" at the time.
Then taoiseach Simon Harris said in August last year that housing targets would be exceeded with almost 40,000 homes built.
The previous coalition's Housing for All plan included a target of 33,450 homes to be built last year.
Figures from the Central Statistics Office showed only 30,330 homes were finished in 2024, a drop of 2,195 on the previous year.
Speaking on RTÉ’s This Week, Mr Martin said Fianna Fáil was repeatedly told that the final quarter figures would be much stronger, but this was not the case.
"It was not in any way a premeditated attempt to mislead anybody. There was a genuine belief that figures would come in strong in the last quarter," he said.
He claimed that the number of house completions was not a core issue of the election.
Read more: Were voters misled on housing before the election?
Mr Martin said he would not make any projections for housing completions this year but an assessment would be made in due course.
He said the Government needs to pivot more strongly to getting more private investment in the market as the State "can't do it all on its own".
He added that this may involve some politically unpalatable decisions but the Government will be guided by the work of the Housing Committee.
No cost of living package with rent pressure zones to be examined
Mr Martin said Government will examine Rent Pressure Zones which are due to expire at end of this year.
"The Rent Pressure Zones expire at the end of the year so we have time in between to say: can we develop an alternative system which protects renters but also enables people to have a clear stable environment in which to invest," he added.
The Taoiseach also said there will not be a cost-of-living package in the next budget.
Mr Martin said the Government will endeavour, through the budget, to help people through social protection and tax.
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However, inflation has come down and we do not anticipate energy credits being part of budget 2026, he said.
Referendum on ministers could happen in future, Taoiseach says
The Taoiseach said extra Cabinet ministers are needed for a range of reasons but that the Government is limited by the Constitution in how many can be appointed.
He said there is merit and value in appointing super junior ministers.
He told RTÉ's This Week that a referendum on the matter could happen in the future but is not in the Programme for Government.
Mr Martin said gender balance was a priority when it came to forming the Government and Fianna Fáil ran the highest number of female candidates in the general election.
He said he decided not to appoint any first time TD, male or female, to Cabinet.
The Taoiseach said he appointed Mary Butler as Chief Whip, adding that she was the right person for that job.
"I will continue to do what I can to enhance the role of women in politics," he said.
