Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 March 2026
322. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the number of affordable houses, cost rental and cost purchase, planned for Cork City and County Councils; and on the targets he has set for same. [23430/26]
View answerMy 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.
In terms of starter homes delivery, almost 19,000 starter home supports have been delivered since the launch of the previous housing plan, Housing for All, including nearly 4,000 in Cork. Within the combined Cork City and Cork County Council areas, from Q1 up to the end of Q3 2025, a total of 838 starter home supports have been delivered, across affordable purchase, cost rental, the First Home Scheme and the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant. The upcoming Q4 figures are expected to show further significant progress in the delivery of starter home supports, both within Cork and nationally.
Both Cork City and Cork County councils have established a significant pipeline of affordable housing delivery in the Cork area, and continue to work proactively with all delivery partners. Cork City Council has funding approval in place for 11 schemes to deliver 535 affordable homes with the support of the Affordable Housing Fund by end 2027, of which 312 have been delivered by end Q3 2025. In addition, Cork County Council has funding approval for 20 schemes supported by the Affordable Housing Fund to deliver 800 affordable homes by end 2027, of which 287 have been delivered by end Q3 2025.
In order to further drive the required delivery of starter homes under Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025 - 2030, local authorities, including Cork City and County Councils, will shortly commence the preparation of new Housing Delivery Action Plans (HDAPs), for review by my Department, setting out how the Starter Homes Programme will be implemented within their area. These HDAPs, replacing those previously drawn up under Housing for All, will be informed by affordable housing need within the local authority area, and will involve collaboration with the delivery partners, including the Land Development Agency, the Approved Housing Bodies and the wider development sector, as applicable.
