Written answers

Thursday, 15 May 2025

Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government

Housing Provision

Photo of Louis O'HaraLouis O'Hara (Galway East, Sinn Fein)
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61. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will review the amount allocated to Galway County Council for social housing acquisitions for 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24030/25]

Photo of James BrowneJames Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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The clear focus of Government is to increase the supply of new build social and affordable homes. This is key to addressing the housing challenge and in particular preventing and ultimately eliminating long term homelessness, and that unquestionably must be the priority for all local authorities including Galway County Council.

My Department is continuing to provide substantial financial support to local authorities to acquire second-hand properties for priority categories of need including tenants-in-situ who have been in receipt of supports under HAP or RAS and who had received a Notice of Termination. The other priority categories for second-hand acquisitions are properties that allow persons/families to exit homelessness; one-bedroom properties to deliver on Housing First targets; and specific housing required for people with a disability or the elderly.

This year my Department is providing €325 million to local authorities for second-hand acquisitions which has been apportioned across all 31 local authorities. Galway County Council has been given a capital funding allocation of €6 million for their acquisitions activity this year. In calculating the capital funding allocation, my Department has taken metrics such as spend and delivery in previous years and the Summary of Social Housing Assessments into account to ensure each local authority is adequately funded.

To date this year, Galway County Council has been granted additional funding approval by my Department for 3 Turnkey applications set to deliver a total of 57 Turnkey units. At minimum, 30 of those are due to deliver in 2025. An additional 22 Part V units are also due for 2025 delivery.

Photo of Pearse DohertyPearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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62. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will consider how funding is being provided for social housing acquisitions, given the small amount of funding provided to Donegal and the significant need in the county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24836/25]

Photo of James BrowneJames Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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The clear focus of Government is to increase the supply of new build social and affordable homes. This is key to addressing the housing challenge and in particular preventing and ultimately eliminating long term homelessness, and that unquestionably must be the priority for all local authorities including Donegal County Council.

My Department is continuing to provide substantial financial support to local authorities to acquire second-hand properties for priority categories of need including tenants-in-situ who have been in receipt of supports under HAP or RAS and who had received a Notice of Termination. The other priority categories for second-hand acquisitions are properties that allow persons/families to exit homelessness; one-bedroom properties to deliver on Housing First targets; and specific housing required for people with a disability or the elderly.

Over the last three years, my Department has provided funding for second hand acquisitions for these priority categories, demonstrating a clear commitment to respond to shorter-term pressures that can arise. This year we are providing €325 million to local authorities for second-hand acquisitions which has been apportioned across all 31 local authorities. Donegal County Council have been given a capital funding allocation of €2 million for their acquisitions activity this year. In calculating the capital funding allocation, my Department has taken metrics such as spend and delivery in previous years and the Summary of Social Housing Assessments into account to ensure each local authority is adequately funded.

Photo of Peter CleerePeter Cleere (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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63. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of new homes completed in Kilkenny since July 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24642/25]

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