Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 22 January 2026
412. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the initiatives being taken to support affordable housing in County Kilkenny; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5291/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra413. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the initiatives being taken to support affordable housing in County Carlow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5292/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 412 and 413 together.
Government is fully committed to delivering housing at scale and continuing to accelerate housing supply across all tenures. To this end, affordability 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.
Under this new housing plan, the supports established under the previous plan, Housing for All , will be retained, streamlined and expanded to form a Starter Homes Programme, which will ensure that first time buyers and renters in need of support will continue to be supported by the State.
Kilkenny has seen over 300 affordable housing supports delivered since 2021 under the Local Authority Affordable Purchase scheme (46 homes), the First Home scheme (140 homes), the Vacant Homes Refurbishment Grant (91 homes), the Cost Rental Equity Loan scheme (25 homes) and the Cost Rental Tenant in Situ scheme (3 homes).
Kilkenny County Council has submitted an affordable purchase scheme application to my Department, which is currently under assessment, with the potential to deliver 37 new homes. My Department will continue to engage with all delivery partners to further the development of the affordable housing delivery pipeline in Kilkenny.
Carlow has also seen the delivery of over 100 affordable housing supports since 2021, via the Local Authority Affordable Purchase scheme (15 homes), the First Home scheme (62 homes), the Vacant Homes Refurbishment Grant (31 homes) and the Cost Rental Tenant in Situ scheme (2 homes).
In order to continue to drive the delivery of affordable housing, all local authorities will prepare new Housing Delivery Action Plans (HDAP’s), replacing plans made under Housing for All. HADP’s will set out how the Starter Homes Programme will be implemented within each administrative area. This development of HDAP’s will be undertaken in collaboration with delivery partners, including the Land Development Agency and Approved Housing Bodies, as applicable, and will be informed by local needs, taking account of the requirement to provide the right mix of homes within localities.
Quarterly housing delivery reports will continue to be published on my Department's website, to help track the progress of both Kilkenny and Carlow County Councils, and all other local authority’s affordable delivery output to 2030.
My Department will continue to work intensively with all of the local authorities and delivery partners to expand the supply of affordable and starter homes, thereby continuing to deliver tangible outcomes for individuals and families seeking to own or rent an affordable home.
