Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 November 2025
539. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the audit and reporting obligations that will apply to all delivery bodies under Delivering Homes, Building Communities; the schedule for publishing expenditure reports; and whether regional-level cost data will be included in these reports. [64410/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra540. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the average cost per unit for social housing, affordable purchase, and cost-rental homes delivered in 2023 and 2024; the projected average unit cost under Delivering Homes, Building Communities for each year to 2030; and the measures in place to control unit-level cost inflation. [64401/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra541. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the way in which the additional €6 billion referenced in Delivering Homes, Building Communities will be allocated across construction, land acquisition, infrastructure, subsidies, and administrative costs; and the timeframe for expenditure in each category. [64402/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra542. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the controls in place to ensure value for money in approved housing bodies-delivered housing projects funded under Delivering Homes, Building Communities; the audit mechanisms applied; and the criteria used to approve per-unit funding for approved housing bodies schemes. [64403/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra543. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the expected impact of construction cost inflation on the delivery targets set out in Delivering Homes, Building Communities; the inflation assumptions used in the plan; and the contingency measures in place to prevent cost overruns. [64404/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra544. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the average acquisition cost of land used for housing delivery in the past two years; the expected land costs for new sites under Delivering Homes, Building Communities; and the steps being taken to reduce land acquisition pressures, including land-value capture and State-owned site activation. [64405/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra545. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a formal value-for-money review has been completed for the Housing for All programme; if so, the findings of the review; and the way in which these findings informed the design of Delivering Homes, Building Communities. [64406/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra546. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total projected expenditure on developer subsidies for affordable homes and cost-rental units under Delivering Homes, Building Communities; the expected per-unit subsidy in each scheme; and the evidence used to justify these subsidy levels. [64409/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra610. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the projected annual housing delivery for Cork city and Cork county under the new national plan Delivering Homes, Building Communities; and the expected output for each year to 2030. [63857/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra614. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the expected annual and cumulative delivery for each region, including Cork city and Cork county, under the new strategy Delivering Homes, Building Communities; the number of homes allocated to social housing, affordable purchase, and private market supply in each area; and the basis on which these allocations were determined. [63874/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra615. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of social homes to be delivered in Cork city, Blarney, Mallow, Glanmire and surrounding areas in each year to 2030 under Delivering Homes, Building Communities; and the supporting data used to assess local need in these areas. [63875/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra616. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of the 90,000 starter homes referenced in Delivering Homes, Building Communities that will be delivered in Cork city and Cork county; the expected annual output for each year to 2030; and the criteria used to decide regional distribution. [63876/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra617. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of homes delivered in each year from 2021 to 2024 under Housing for All; the gap between those results and the original annual targets; and how this delivery record informed the new 2030 targets in Delivering Homes, Building Communities. [63877/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra621. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the projected cost per unit across social, affordable, and market delivery streams under Delivering Homes, Building Communities; the measures in place to ensure value-for-money; and the steps being taken to prevent cost inflation seen in previous programmes. [63881/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra622. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether Cork City Council and Cork County Council have the staff, procurement capacity, and capital resources required to meet their delivery targets under Delivering Homes, Building Communities; and whether additional support will be provided. [63882/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra628. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether local authorities have sufficient planning, engineering, and procurement staff to meet the delivery targets under Delivering Homes, Building Communities; and whether additional staff or resources will be provided to Cork City Council and Cork County Council. [63894/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra630. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the affordability assumptions used in Delivering Homes, Building Communities for first-time buyers and cost-rental tenants; the income levels these assumptions are based on; and the measures planned to ensure affordability targets are met in each region. [63896/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra632. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the expected price range for the 90,000 starter homes referenced in Delivering Homes, Building Communities; whether regional price caps will apply; and the income bands targeted for these homes. [63898/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra633. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the projected homelessness figures for each year to 2030; the measures planned to stabilise and reduce homelessness; and how these projections informed the design of Delivering Homes, Building Communities. [63899/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra634. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the expected impact of Delivering Homes, Building Communities on rental supply and average rents; the number of cost-rental units planned annually; and the regional breakdown for Cork city and Cork county. [63900/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra636. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of young adults aged 18 to 34 still living in their family home; the increase in this figure since 2020; and how Delivering Homes, Building Communities aims to reduce this number, particularly in urban centres such as Cork. [63902/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra638. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the method used to calculate cost-rental rents under Delivering Homes, Building Communities; the projected rent levels for Cork city and Cork county; and whether cost-rental rents will remain below market levels throughout the tenancy. [63904/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra639. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the impact of Delivering Homes, Building Communities on middle-income households who do not qualify for social housing and who cannot afford current market prices; and the specific supports planned for this cohort. [63905/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra649. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the impact labour shortages are having on the cost of delivering social, affordable, and cost-rental housing; the cost assumptions used in Delivering Homes, Building Communities; and the measures planned to stabilise costs. [63922/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra653. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the labour cost inflation assumptions used in Delivering Homes, Building Communities; the expected annual labour cost increases to 2030; and how these assumptions affect projected housing costs. [63927/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra655. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total projected cost of delivering the 303,000 homes targeted in Delivering Homes, Building Communities; the projected annual expenditure to 2030; and the sources of Exchequer and non-Exchequer funding that will be used. [63930/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra657. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the loan-to-cost ratios applied in affordable purchase schemes; the financial criteria participating households must meet; and whether these criteria will change under Delivering Homes, Building Communities. [63933/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra659. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the financing structure for cost-rental homes under Delivering Homes, Building Communities; the average subsidy per unit; and how these subsidies ensure rent levels remain below market rates. [63935/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra660. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the assessment undertaken on the financial viability of private-sector delivery under Delivering Homes, Building Communities; the risk of reduced private output due to construction inflation or interest rates; and the contingency measures in place. [63936/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra664. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of wheelchair accessible and fully adapted social housing units delivered in 2023 and 2024; the annual targets to 2030 under Delivering Homes, Building Communities; and the regional distribution of these units. [63941/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra666. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of households assessed as high medical priority for housing; the number accommodated in 2023 and 2024; and the targets for addressing this group under Delivering Homes, Building Communities. [63943/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra672. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the BER standard required for all new homes delivered under Delivering Homes, Building Communities; the number of A-rated homes delivered in 2023 and 2024; and the expected annual share of A-rated completions to 2030. [63950/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra673. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the additional construction cost per unit arising from current climate and energy-efficiency standards; the cost assumptions used in Delivering Homes, Building Communities; and whether these costs pose delivery risks for social and affordable housing. [63951/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra676. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether embodied carbon calculations are required for housing projects funded by the State; the method used; and how embodied carbon considerations informed the design of Delivering Homes, Building Communities. [63954/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra684. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether the housing delivery targets in Delivering Homes, Building Communities align with the capacity set out in each local authority Development Plan; and where discrepancies exist, the changes that are required. [63962/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 539, 540, 541, 542, 543, 544, 545, 546, 610, 614, 615, 616, 617, 621, 622, 628, 630, 632, 633, 634, 636, 638, 639, 649, 653, 655, 657, 659, 660, 664, 666, 672, 673, 676 and 684 together.
More than 137,000 new homes have been delivered since the beginning of 2021, with 92,300 of these delivered between 2022 and 2024, exceeding the combined target for that period by 5,300. While supply has increased significantly in recent years, the pace of housing delivery must accelerate even further in the coming years. To help drive this supply, record levels of investment are being provided for the delivery of Housing in 2026, with overall capital funding of over €9 billion announced in Budget 2026.
Delivering Homes, Building Communities, published on 13 November 2025, is Ireland’s new national housing plan. It is a wide-ranging action plan focused on housing supply and targeting homelessness and places Government focus on measures to activate supply alongside actions to support people who are homeless or experiencing housing challenges.
Crucially, the new plan seeks to significantly accelerate delivery by focusing on activating land and creating the optimal environment to encourage housing activity, including regulatory reform, tax incentives and the largest ever capital investment in the history of the State, with €275 billion invested in infrastructure over ten years through the National Development Plan.
Delivering Homes, Building Communities encompasses two pillars: activating supply and supporting people.
Pillar 1 focuses on activating the supply of 300,000 homes. This will be achieved through activating more land, providing more housing-related infrastructure, securing more development finance for home building, addressing viability challenges, particularly in apartment delivery, increasing the adoption of Modern Methods of Construction, improving labour skills in the residential construction sector, and working towards ending dereliction and vacancy.
Pillar 2 details how Government will support people. It sets out a series of key actions that work towards ending homelessness, supporting affordability and addressing the housing needs of people as they progress through life. In partnership with local authorities, the Land Development Agency (LDA) and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs), the Plan will address the needs of the most vulnerable in our communities, make buying and renting homes more affordable, and support the development of villages, towns and cities across the country.
By addressing these priorities we will ensure the sustained increase in the supply of social, affordable and private homes that we need, while providing targeted supports for those who are most affected by the current housing challenges.
Reaching our housing 300,000 target will only be achieved through the individual and collective effort of the key delivery partners. Local authorities, together with AHBs, the LDA and the construction sector, will be critical to delivering and enabling the delivery of the quantum of homes needed over the lifetime of the plan. Central government will provide the policy, regulatory and funding frameworks to support housing delivery.
Each priority set down in the Plan contains a suite of actions. The implementation of each action will be led by a named Government department, State Agency or other body. Progress on the implementation of these actions will be regularly monitored and reviewed by the Cabinet Committee on Housing, ensuring effective oversight, accountability, and the timely delivery of all actions.
Targets
Delivering Homes, Building Communities aims to deliver 300,000 new homes in the period to 2030, including 72,000 social homes and 90,000 starter home supports.
Official housing completion data, published on a quarterly basis by the CSO and broken down by dwelling type and local authority can be found here: data.cso.ie/table/NDQ06.
Overall social and affordable housing provision statistics, updated quarterly, including details on social and affordable housing provision by each local authority are available here: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/collections/overall-social-and-affordable-housing-provision/.
Delivering Homes, Building Communities and each local authority Development Plan are aligned with the First Revision to the National Planning Framework (NPF), published in April 2025, and the updated Economic and Social Research (ESRI) Institute research that projects the population of Ireland will reach approximately 5.74 million by 2031, increasing to 6.1m by 2040.
To ensure that local authority Development Plans reflect the requirements of the Revised NPF, I issued the NPF Implementation: Housing Growth Requirements Guidelines under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 in July 2025. These Guidelines set out the housing demand scenario to 2040 for each local authority, by translating the NPF housing requirements into average annual figures, and set out the requirement for planning authorities to commence the process of varying their development plan to meet the new housing growth requirements, aligning with the revised housing plan.
All local authorities prepare their own Housing Delivery Action Plan setting out their planned approach to meeting identified social and affordable housing needs. Cork City Council and Cork County Councils’ published plans are available on their official websites.
Providing More Social Homes
The Government plans to significantly increase the number of new social homes built each year from around 8,000 homes per year now to 12,000 homes per year in the coming years. To reach this goal, local authorities, AHBs and the LDA will need to work together and increase their building efforts.
Further information is available here: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/publications/providing-more-social-homes/.
Increasing Affordable Homeownership, Protecting Renters
15,000 Starter Home supports will be provided every year until 2030, while working on long-term solutions to make starter homes more affordable and sustainable.
Further information is available here:
- Starter Homes Programme: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/publications/starter-homes-programme/.
- Starter Homes for Purchasers: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/publications/starter-homes-for-purchasers/.
- Starter Homes for Renters: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/publications/starter-homes-for-renters/.
- Additional Affordability and Activation Supports: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/publications/additional-affordability-and-activation-supports/.
Supporting Specific Housing Needs
The Government helps people who may need extra support with housing especially older people, people with disabilities and Travellers. These groups can face unique challenges, so tailored housing and support services are provided to help them live independently and feel included in their communities. This approach promotes equality, choice, and a better quality of life for everyone.
Further information is available at the links below:
- Delivering Housing for Older People: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/publications/delivering-housing-for-older-people/.
- Supporting Disabled People: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/publications/supporting-disabled-people/.
- Meeting Traveller Accommodation Needs: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/publications/meeting-traveller-accommodation-needs/.
Addressing Homelessness
There is a strong focus in the Plan on ending homelessness and providing the housing supports needed for older people, disabled people and Travellers to achieve long-term secure housing that meets their needs.
Further information is available here: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/publications/addressing-homelessness/.
Increasing Skills, Adopting Modern Methods of Construction
To deliver over 300,000 homes, Ireland’s construction sector must double its output. A key part of achieving this is increasing skills and adopting Modern Methods of Construction (MMC). MMC will speed up building, improve quality and make projects more sustainable and cost-effective. This requires a coordinated approach across Government, industry and professional bodies.
Further Information is available here: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/publications/increasing-skills-adopting-modern-methods-of-construction/.
Energy Performance
As a result of the Nearly Zero Energy Building (NZEB) performance requirement for new buildings, all new dwellings completed since 30 December 2020 are typically A-rated. Fossil fuel heating systems have been phased out of new dwellings and renewable energy heat pumps are installed in almost all new dwellings.
The CSO Domestic Building Energy Ratings Quarter 2 2025 shows that 99% of BERs for new dwellings from 2020 to 2025 were A-Rated. It is expected that all new dwellings will be A-rated by 2030.
Facilitating Investment, Addressing Viability
To deliver 300,000 new homes, Ireland needs major investment of around €20 billion per annum in development finance. This will be met by Exchequer funding, investment by the LDA, lending by the Housing Finance Agency and through the many sources of finance available to the private sector.
The Government is focused on reducing construction costs, especially for apartments and higher-density housing, and making building more viable through measures like the Croí Cónaithe (Cities) Scheme.
A range of measures have been put in place to reduce the cost of construction for social housing, including promoting the use of Modern Methods of Construction; the review of the Planning Design Standards for Apartments Guidelines for Planning Authorities; the development of standardised designs for social housing; new procurement approaches; streamlined approval processes; and measures to promote careers in construction.
Further to this, a dedicated work programme will be established to systematically review all available information on development costs on an ongoing basis. In line with a specific action in Delivering Homes, Building Communities, my Department will be examining all information on development costs on an ongoing basis to assess the impact of these measures and inform any future action to be taken to reduce costs and improve viability.
Further Information is available here: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/publications/facilitating-investment-addressing-viability/.
