Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 5 March 2026
164. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on his progress toward delivering affordable housing in east Galway; the measures currently being advanced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16786/26]
View answerAffordability and the chance to own a home is at the heart of the Government’s housing policy, as embodied within the new housing plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025 – 2030.
The new plan builds upon the significant progress made under our previous plan Housing for All, with almost 19,000 affordable housing supports having been delivered from its launch to the end of Q3 2025, including 171 in Galway City and 294 in Galway County.
Under the new housing plan, all local authorities are required to prepare new Housing Delivery Action Plans, replacing their existing action plans, to be completed during 2026. These will identify affordable starter home need within their areas and set out how this will be met, over the lifetime of the plan.
The Affordable Housing Fund is available to assist local authorities in the delivery of starter homes solutions, where significant affordability need is identified. In terms of new delivery, Galway City and Galway County have received funding approval to facilitate the delivery of an additional of 130 and 113 affordable homes respectively, with the support of the Affordable Housing Fund. My Department has recently met with the affordable delivery team in Galway County and understands that a number of further proposals are in the process of being developed.
Also, the Government has agreed the transfer of 1.4 hectares of land at Galway Harbour, to enable the LDA's planned delivery of 356 new social and affordable homes. Subject to planning permission, construction is provisionally scheduled to commence in 2027.
In addition to the specific delivery I’ve mentioned, the First Home Scheme is available to support eligible new home purchasers nationwide and the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant supports the purchase and refurbishment of vacant and derelict properties. Both of these schemes have been, and will continue to be, availed of within Galway as an affordable pathway to housing, and in the case of the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, as a valuable support in the tackling of the serious problem of vacancy and dereliction.
