Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 November 2025
358. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason only twenty affordable homes are currently being built in the Wicklow/Wexford constituency, in spite of demand; the plans he has to ensure that Wicklow County Council and Wexford County Council address the demand in this constituency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66898/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraGovernment is fully committed to delivering housing at scale, and continuing to accelerate housing supply across all tenures. Affordability and the chance to own a home is at the heart of Government’s housing policy, as embodied within the new housing plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025 – 2030.
In recent years, Government has introduced several schemes to help people to buy or rent homes. Since 2021, close to 16,900 supports nationwide have been provided via these measures. Under Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025 – 2030, these supports will be retained, streamlined and expanded to form a Starter Homes Programme to ensure that first time buyers and renters in need of support, are supported by Government.
Since 2022, Wicklow has seen 970 households availing of affordable housing supports through a mix of affordable schemes such as the Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme (91 homes), the First Homes Scheme (665 homes), the Vacant Homes Refurbishment Grant (42 homes), LDA Cost Rental (142 homes), AHB Cost Rental (29 homes), and the Cost Rental Tenant in Situ scheme (1).
Wexford has also seen affordable housing supports delivered under the First Homes Scheme (174 homes), the Vacant Homes Refurbishment Grant (86 homes), and the Cost Rental Tenant in Situ scheme (14 homes). Twenty affordable purchase homes have been made available by Wexford County Council at Ramsfort Park in Gorey, ten homes at Ard Uisce in Wexford Town, and fourteen homes at Old Forge Road in Enniscorthy.
In order to drive the delivery of affordable housing, all local authorities will prepare new Housing Delivery Action Plans (HDAP’s), replacing their plan made under Housing for All, setting out how the Starter Homes Programme will be implemented within their administrative areas. This development of their HDAP’s will be undertaken in collaboration with delivery partners, including the Land Development Agency and Approved Housing Bodies and will be informed by local needs, taking account of the requirement to provide the right mix of homes within their area.
My Department publishes comprehensive programme level statistics on a quarterly basis on affordable housing delivery activity by local authorities and other delivery partners. Delivery data up to end Q2 2025 is published on the statistics page of my Department’s website, at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/.
My Department will continue to engage with all delivery partners to further the development of the affordable housing delivery pipeline in the counties of Wicklow and Wexford.
