Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 February 2026
382. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to deliver affordable housing for counties Roscommon and Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15760/26]
View answer383. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of affordable homes delivered in Roscommon and Galway to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15761/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 382 and 383 together.
The Government is fully committed to continuing to accelerate housing supply across all tenures. Overall, almost 19,000 affordable housing solutions have been delivered from 2021 to the end of quarter 3 2025, including 171 in Galway City Council, 294 in Galway County Council, and 154 in Roscommon County Council.
Under Housing for All, launched in September 2021, all local authorities prepared Housing Delivery Action Plans (HDAPs), setting out how they planned to meet their identified social and affordable housing needs. Galway City, Galway County and Roscommon County Councils' published plans are available on their websites. In order to further drive the delivery of affordable housing under the plan, local authorities will shortly commence the preparation of new HDAPs. These revised plans will be assessed and reviewed by the Department, taking account of local and national affordability needs.
A range of funding streams are in place to assist local authorities and the other delivery partners in the provision of their affordable solutions, including the Affordable Housing Fund (AHF). Both Galway City and Galway County have received funding approval to date, under the AHF, to facilitate the delivery of 138 and 130 affordable homes, respectively. Galway County Council has a further proposal for 106 affordable homes in Athenry, currently under assessment.
Roscommon County Council has received approval for its first scheme of 6 affordable purchase homes in Woodberry Manor, Athlone.
It is also worth noting that the First Home Scheme, which supports first-time buyers in purchasing new houses and apartments in the private market, through the use of an equity share model, is also available to support eligible new home purchasers and has been availed of in the Galway city, Galway county and Roscommon local authority areas.
My Department, in conjunction with the Housing Delivery Co-ordination Office of the Local Government Management Association and the affordable housing team in the Housing Agency, continues to be available to advise and support all local authorities in providing affordable housing solutions that will respond effectively to affordability needs identified.
