Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 May 2026
207. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on when his Department will provide the funding to Donegal County Council to proceed with affordable housing projects in the county. [37484/26]
View answerSupporting home ownership is at the centre of Government’s housing policy and our housing plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities.
The new housing plan reinforces and expands the range of existing affordable housing measures being implemented by the Government. In particular, a new Starter Homes Programme, which is a central component of the plan, aims to deliver an average of 15,000 affordable housing supports annually to 2030.
Under the new plan, local authorities will shortly commence the updating of their Housing Delivery Action Plans (HDAPs), for review by my Department, setting out how the Starter Homes Programme will be implemented within their area. Each local authority HDAP will be informed by identifiable affordable housing need within their area and will include collaboration with their delivery partners, including the Land Development Agency and the Approved Housing Bodies, as applicable. These plans will be completed and published by local authorities by end of Q3 2026.
In addition, the Affordable Housing Fund (AHF) is available to all local authorities, including Donegal County Council, to assist towards the cost of developing affordable housing at locations where significant affordability needs have been identified.
I understand that Donegal County Council has recently submitted its first AHF application to the Department which is currently under consideration.
Furthermore, measures such as the First Home Scheme, the Help-to-Buy Scheme, and the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant are also available to help make home ownership more affordable.
My Department, the Housing Agency and Housing Delivery Co-ordination Office of the Local Government Management Association continue to be available to assist Donegal County Council to develop an affordable delivery programme that will continue to respond effectively to identified localised affordability needs in key urban locations including where appropriate affordable purchase homes that may be delivered with the support of the AHF and Part V planning obligations.
