The Government has moved to defend its decision to remove annual delivery targets from its latest housing strategy, arguing that rigid yearly numbers can distract from long-term progress. Minister for Housing James Browne said that data on housing completions will still be published each year, but that fixed annual benchmarks are not always the most reliable way to judge overall performance.
The Taoiseach supported this view, noting that it is particularly difficult to produce accurate yearly forecasts for private sector construction. He suggested that annual divisions can create an artificial impression of how housing output is progressing.
The comments came as the Government unveiled Delivering Homes, Building Communities, a revised housing plan aimed at boosting supply and addressing system blockages. The strategy includes a headline commitment for at least 300,000 new homes to be delivered by 2030. The Government insists this is an achievable baseline rather than a cap, provided the public and private sectors work in tandem.
Major Funding to Support Infrastructure and Delivery
A core theme of the plan is the need to remove obstacles that slow or prevent construction. To support this, the Government is allocating €1 billion to its infrastructure fund, aimed at accelerating projects that have been delayed by local constraints. A new Housing Activation Office will work with local authorities to identify and resolve barriers, while the Land Development Agency will receive an additional €2.5 billion to support large-scale building nationwide.
The Government has pledged to deliver 72,000 new social homes as part of its 2030 target. It also expects that additional supply will ease pressure on emergency accommodation, with the Minister expressing confidence that homelessness figures will begin to fall once more homes enter the system.
Opposition parties have criticised the revised plan, accusing the Government of recycling old policies rather than introducing new solutions.
Tackling Homelessness as a National Priority
The strategy highlights homelessness as the most pressing social challenge facing the country. Among its commitments is €100 million in capital funding to purchase second-hand homes for families spending prolonged periods in emergency accommodation. A dedicated Child and Family Action Plan aims to secure 2,000 tenancies through the Housing First Programme.
The plan also commits to improving housing options for older people, investing in Traveller-specific accommodation, and expanding the range of one-bed and four-bed homes to reflect changing demographics.
To support smaller builders, a €400 million equity fund will be introduced. Meanwhile, the broader housing package includes €28.2 billion in exchequer funding, alongside confirmed investment in water and wastewater services, energy infrastructure and transport.
Strong Focus on Vacant Properties and Regeneration
Bringing unused properties back into the market is a central pillar of the strategy. The Government intends to convert more vacant retail and commercial spaces into homes, with grants of up to €140,000 available per property and access to expert advice.
The plan aims to return 20,000 derelict homes to use through the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, which is being expanded to include an Above-the-Shop top-up. A new Derelict Property Tax, to be managed by Revenue, is also being introduced. The Living City Initiative will be extended to 2030 and expanded to include Athlone, Drogheda, Dundalk, Letterkenny and Sligo.
Support for First-Time Buyers
Several buyer supports are being extended or expanded.
• The First Homes Scheme, under which the State takes an equity stake in a first-time buyer’s home, will now apply to derelict and long-term vacant properties as well as new builds.
• The Help to Buy scheme, which allows eligible buyers to reclaim up to €30,000 of previously paid tax, will remain in place until the end of 2030.
Mixed Political Response
At the launch of the strategy, the Taoiseach described housing as the defining national issue, stressing that progress depends on major investment in water, energy and transport networks. The Tánaiste echoed this, describing housing as the country’s greatest challenge and emphasising the need to accelerate delivery.
Sinn Féin’s housing spokesperson strongly criticised the plan, arguing that it fails to address the structural causes of the crisis. He said the Government is underestimating demand and removing annual targets to avoid scrutiny. According to him, a target of 50,000 new homes per year is insufficient to resolve the shortage.
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