Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 March 2026
326. Deputy George Lawlor asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of affordable housing units delivered in Galway City and County Galway in each of the past five years; the number currently planned or under construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21117/26]
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 (this includes VPRG and First Home statistics up to end of 2025).
My Department publishes comprehensive programme-level statistics on a quarterly basis, including for social housing provision and starter home delivery activity by local authority and delivery partners, for each local authority area. Data from 2022 to Q3 2025 is currently published on the statistics page of my Department’s website, with the Q4 for 2025 data due to be published shortly.
Galway City Council has to date received funding approval of €10.4m to assist towards the development costs of 138 starter homes with AHF support, of which 8 of these homes have been delivered up to Q3 2025.
Galway County Council has received funding approval of €9.5m to assist towards the development costs of 130 starter homes with AHF support, of which 17 of these homes have been delivered up to Q3 2025.
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.
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 both Galway local authority areas.
Additionally, 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.
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.
My Department, along with the Housing Agency and the Housing Delivery Co-ordination Office of the Local Government Management Association continues to be available to advise and support all local authorities in providing affordable housing solutions that will respond effectively to identified affordability needs in their areas.
