Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 5 March 2026
178. Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the pipeline of affordable purchase units being developed by all local authorities and categorise them at stages of development. [17479/26]
View answer210. Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of affordable purchase homes due to be delivered in 2026 and 2027 under the local authority affordable purchase scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17831/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 178 and 210 together.
Under Delivering Homes, Building Communities, the Government is fully committed to delivering housing at scale and continuing to accelerate housing supply across all tenures, including affordable purchase.
The Affordable Housing Fund is available to assist local authorities towards the cost of developing affordable homes where significant affordability needs have been identified. In line with the Affordable Housing Act 2021, the administration of affordable housing schemes, including the identification and development of schemes suitable for AHF support, is a matter for the local authority concerned.
To date, the local authority affordable housing delivery programme is supporting the delivery of over 7,200 affordable homes, including over 6,000 local authority starter purchase homes, across 24 local authorities. To support local authority delivery, grant assistant of over €655m is in place under the Affordable Housing Fund.
In order to further drive delivery, local authorities will shortly commence the preparation of new Housing Delivery Action Plans, for review by my Department, setting out how the Starter Homes Programme will be implemented within their area. These plans will be completed and published by local authorities in 2026.
My Department, along with the Housing Agency and the Housing Delivery Coordination Office of the Local Government Management Agency, will continue to advise and support all local authorities in respect of their planned response to affordable housing needs in all key urban locations nationwide. The emphasis is on proactively collaborating to identify, develop and deliver viable affordable housing opportunities.
