Social Democrats deputy leader Cian O'Callaghan has accused the Government of using "dodgy data" on housing.
He said the 60,000 commencements figure for 2024 cited by Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers would not result in completed units.
Speaking during Leaders' Questions in the Dáil, Mr O’Callaghan said this was also the view of developer lobby group Property Investment Ireland, which said many of these sites were remaining idle.
His comments came as the Cabinet signed off on a Government motion on housing which specifies the need for the State to diversify sources of investment when it comes to housing delivery.
Mr Chambers said there was a strong pipeline with significantly more work on site than before aided by the development levy and water waivers.
He said this would result in more completed units this year and next year.
On the suggestion of tax breaks for developers, the minister said the Government should examine all policy options.
He said there will be bigger role for the State in housing but there was also a need to unlock more private investment.
'Repeating mistakes'
Labour leader Ivana Bacik claimed the Government was about to "repeat the housing policy mistakes of the past" in its review of policy by intending to weaken protection for renters and provide additional financial assistance to developers.
She told the Dáil that research from the Economic Social and Research Institute has already proven that increasing tax breaks for investment funds does not increase the delivery of housing supply.
Ms Bacik said her party would tomorrow present housing plans which were "clear, evidence-based policies" which would secure a "radical" reset of policy and help the country escape what she termed a "housing catastrophe."
She accused both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael of misleading the public during the general election about house completions for 2024, and said the public wasn't informed either about "pulling the run from under renters" or delivering "off-the-cuff handouts to developers."
The Dublin Bay South TD said the Government needed to clarify that the rental protection zone legislations would be retained.
In reply, Mr Chambers said if the country was to deliver 50,000 homes a year then "... we're going to need more provide sector involvement."
He said the Opposition needed to be honest about this fact and therefore the Government was "examining all options".
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Dismissing the Labour Party's call for the creation of a State construction company because it "would take years", Mr Chambers said the central objective in the Government's planned review of housing policy "will be to increase supply and unlock all leavers to drive affordability".
He said it was disappointing that only 30,000 homes were completed in 2024, however he contended that if a calculation was made over the past three years, then the Government's target was exceeded by more than 5,000.
Minister of State at the Department of Finance Robert Troy has said there is a need to "incentivise and attract greater funding to complement what the State is already investing" in housing".
"People out there want to see more houses built and we need to look at every avenue in terms of how we can increase and deliver the greatest number of houses per annum possible," Mr Troy added.
Speaking on RTé's Drivetime, Mr Troy said that if tax breaks had worked in the past to incentivise housing "maybe they are part of the solution now".
"No decision has been made."
The Fianna Fáil TD said the cause of high rents was "demand far outstripping supply" and the Government needs to reverse the fall in housing completions.
"The State on its own does not have the capacity to invest €20bn per annum to supply 50,000 houses."
'Nasty, Thatcherite bent'
Earlier, Solidarity-People Before Profit TD Ruth Coppinger said in her view Government has a "nasty, Thatcherite bent" due to suggestions tax breaks could be offered to developers to help speed up housing development.
Speaking to reporters at Leinster House, Ms Coppinger said "the veil has been lifted" on the issue, saying the potential policy is in her view "not for tenants" and designed to support private developers.
Ms Coppinger's view was repeated by party colleague Richard Boyd Barrett, who said he believes any potential tax breaks for developers may not be in the interests of the public.
He said in his view developers and investors want to "drive prices up" to benefit themselves.
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Rent pressure zones
The Dáil also heard that a 70-year-old woman whose daughter has special needs fears she will become homeless if the Rent Pressure Zones (RPZs) are altered.
Sinn Féin Spokesperson on Housing Eoin Ó Broin said the woman who is paying a €1,477 rent each month believes the RPZs, which only allow for a 2% annual rent hike, are keeping her out of homelessness.
It has never been more difficult to be a renter and now the Government is on course to break its election promises to renters, Mr Ó Broin said.
Mr Chambers responded by saying the Government wants to provide more homes for people and all policy options are being examined to achieve this.
Mr Chambers said a review of Rent Pressure Zones is under way and it will then be considered by Government.
"We need to ensure that the system is fit for purpose, that it protects tenants but that it does not deter landlords. Without landlords and investors, there isn't a private rental market," he said.
Meanwhile, Labour Spokesperson on Housing and Limerick City TD Conor Sheehan said in his view "if Government lift the rent pressure zones then all hell will break lose" in the sector.
Mr Sheehan told reporters that the average rent in Limerick is now €2,100 and that he believes this figure will rise if rent pressure zones are not continued.
On Sunday, the Taoiseach said that the Government would be examining the rent pressure zone system, which is due to expire at the end of the year.
Mr Sheehan his party wants to see a three-year rent freeze introduced to help renters, and that Labour is "very concerned" about potential tax breaks for investors - saying "none of this was in the programme for Government".
His comments were supported by party finance spokesperson Ged Nash, who said a number of times that when he heard about suggestions of tax breaks for investors "I had to pinch myself" to remember it was not the early 2000s.
Additional reporting Mícheál Lehane
