I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter regarding the delivery of social and affordable housing in Arklow. I am answering on behalf of our colleague the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Browne, and his Department.
Affordability and the chance to own a home remain at the heart of this Government's housing policy, as set out in our new national housing action plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025–2030. At the same time, we remain firmly committed to delivering the social housing needed to support individuals and families who require housing assistance and to building strong, sustainable communities across the country.
Under the housing action plan, the Government is targeting the delivery of 300,000 new homes by 2030, including 72,000 social homes. The plan will significantly increase the delivery of new-build social housing to an average of 12,000 homes per year and includes a range of measures to support local authorities in meeting this ambition. These include a streamlined approval process for social housing projects, greater use of standardised designs and modern methods of construction, enhanced land acquisition supports, dedicated housing delivery teams in every local authority and financial incentives to exceed annual social housing delivery targets.
Alongside these social housing measures, the plan reinforces and expands the range of affordable housing supports already being delivered, including the new starter homes programme, which aims to provide an average of 15,000 starter home supports annually to 2030. To underpin this ambition, the Government is investing at an unprecedented level through direct Exchequer funding, investment by the Land Development Agency and lending through the Housing Finance Agency.
Across the country, the starter purchase scheme, cost-rental scheme, first home scheme, help-to-buy scheme and the vacant property refurbishment grant are helping individuals and families access secure and affordable housing. Last year, more than 17,000 supports were delivered through these measures.
In Wicklow, significant progress has already been made. Since 2022, over 1,000 starter home supports have been delivered through a combination of starter purchase, cost rental, the first home scheme and the vacant property refurbishment grant. Wicklow County Council has delivered 91 starter purchase homes to date and has further schemes approved for delivery in the coming years. The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has also funded seven dedicated starter homes administrative and technical posts within Wicklow County Council to support delivery.
Importantly, Wicklow County Council is also performing strongly in the delivery of social housing. The council has exceeded its social housing targets for the period 2022 to 2025, achieving 125% of its target. The latest social housing construction status report shows a strong pipeline of 512 social homes at various stages of design and procurement, including 166 homes under construction at the end of 2025. This demonstrates a local authority that is actively delivering homes and planning for future need.
While Wicklow County Council currently has a programme of housing delivery under way in other parts of the county, no applications have yet been received for starter homes schemes in Arklow. This is clearly a matter that requires continued engagement and focus.
The affordable housing fund remains available to Wicklow County Council to support the development of affordable homes where affordability pressures have been identified. The Department of housing, the Housing Agency and the housing delivery co-ordination office continue to work closely with local authorities to develop and advance housing projects that respond to local needs, including in key growth centres such as Arklow.
As local authorities prepare new housing delivery action plans under Delivering Homes, Building Communities, there will be a renewed focus on identifying and delivering both social and affordable housing solutions that reflect local needs and priorities. These plans will provide a clear pathway for future delivery and ensure that communities such as Arklow benefit from the full range of housing supports available.
This is about more than building houses, as the Deputy knows. It is about building sustainable communities, creating places where people can live, work and raise families, and ensuring that the homes we build today are fit for future generations.
