Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 5 March 2026
223. Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of housing units nationally with full planning permission that have not yet commenced construction; the measures being taken to activate these permissions and accelerate delivery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17620/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department tracks and monitors, on an on-going basis, a broad range of data in relation to housing delivery. This includes monitoring high-level indicators such as planning permissions, commencements and completions as well as various sectoral publications and commentary with a view to obtaining as comprehensive an overview as possible of overall delivery, to ensure we continue to have a sufficient pipeline of residential development.
Under the ‘4Dublin Housing Supply Pipeline’ initiative, the four local authorities in the Dublin Region (Fingal County Council, South Dublin County Council, Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council and Dublin City Council) provide combined quarterly data to my Department on new residential planning permissions and housing construction activity for permitted developments. The most recently published data is available at: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/publications/4dublin-housing-supply-pipeline-quarterly-2025-returns/.
The latest report shows a continued upward trend in residential construction activity, with a 24.1% year-on-year increase in active units in the Dublin region.
My Department also closely monitors the progress of public delivery programmes. Data in relation to the social housing pipeline is published on my Department’s website on a quarterly basis in the Social Housing Construction Status Report. My Department also publishes detailed programme-level statistics on a quarterly basis on social and affordable housing delivery activity by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies.
A strong pipeline is being built but we are monitoring any potential bottlenecks. I have established a Housing Activation Office to ensure we identify and address infrastructure barriers to housing delivery as a matter of priority. That Office is now operational and co-ordinating and accelerating the delivery of infrastructure projects that are essential to unlocking housing development on sites nationwide, including through the new infrastructure fund.
Delivering Homes, Building Communities seeks to significantly accelerate delivery of new homes 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.
Delivery of 161,334 new build homes between July 2020 and year end 2025, together with the significant potential currently in the delivery pipeline, shows a combination of policies and supports are clearly on track and addressing the scaled up approach now required.
