Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 5 March 2026
235. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of new build social homes currently in the pipeline in Sligo, Leitrim and South Donegal; the key measures being taken to expand social housing provision during 2026 in Sligo, Leitrim and south Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17574/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department publishes the Social Housing Construction Status Report (CSR), which provides details of social housing developments and their location that have been completed, are under construction or are progressing through the various stages of the design and tender processes. Data is collated at project level rather than individual unit level. The most recent publication was for Quarter 3 2025 and this shows us shows that there were 1,383 homes at various stages of design and procurement in Donegal, 490 homes in Sligo and 57 homes in Leitrim at the end of Quarter 3 2025. This includes the following delivery streams:
|
LA |
SHIP |
CAS |
CALF |
TOTAL |
|
Donegal |
1241 |
42 |
100 |
1383 |
|
Leitrim |
57 |
- |
- |
57 |
|
Sligo |
468 |
22 |
- |
490 |
The Government's new Housing Plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities aims to deliver 300,000 new homes in the period to 2030, including 72,000 social homes. The Plan seeks to significantly scale-up delivery of new build social homes to an average of 12,000 per year. The plan includes key measures to support local authorities to scale up delivery commensurate with the increased required supply under the plan.
The plan will further support additional social housing delivery by mandating the use of standard house layouts and specifications as part of the new approval process and facilitate the use of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) through a standardised design approach. To further promote the delivery of social housing I will embed the use of a Design and Build contract approach in all local authorities and the AHB sector in order to expedite the delivery of social housing.
Additionally, the new ‘single approval’ process for all new build social housing projects up to a value of €200m will support local authorities to streamline processes and encourage delivery of larger new build social housing developments.
The newly established Housing Activation Office (HAO) will identify and address barriers to the delivery of public infrastructure projects required to enable housing development, through the alignment of funding; and co-ordination of infrastructure providers.
Furthermore, the Land Acquisition Fund will be reformed, streamlined and expanded to ensure it is fit for purpose and can support the level of ambition in the Plan. To this end, the fund will also be increased from the current €239m to at least €500m.
To incentivise local authorities to deliver more ‘own build’ projects, a new performance fund will be established. Where a local authority exceeds their ‘own build’ target they will receive additional discretionary funding for the delivery of community and place making initiatives and projects. In addition, ring-fenced 'new-build' housing delivery teams in each local authority dedicated to own build new social and affordable housing delivery will be fully funded by my Department through reimbursement to local authorities on a performance pay basis.
