Jen Cummins (Dublin South Central, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

20. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his plan to increase capacity of Dublin City Council to address their housing list, homelessness and those at risk of homelessness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53295/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Supporting individuals and families at risk of, or experiencing, homelessness is a priority for Government. Critical to addressing homelessness is increasing the supply of housing. I have just agreed the largest ever Housing budget for 2026 with over €9bn in capital, including €5.2bn in Exchequer funding and €3.9bn in LDA and HFA investment. This record level of funding is supporting the delivery of social, affordable and cost rental homes. Housing supply has increased significantly since the publication of Housing for All in 2021.

I also recently secured an additional €50 million for 2025 to expand the social housing Second-Hand Acquisitions Programme, €22m of this was allocated to Dublin City Council. This funding is specifically targeted at acquisitions supporting households, particularly larger families with children, to exit long-term emergency homeless accommodation.

Earlier this year, I began publishing tables showing the new-build social housing delivery achieved by all local authorities as set against their targets from 2022-2024. Since 2022 to the first quarter of 2025, the cumulative Social Housing Build delivery in the Dublin City Council area was 2,351 against a target of 6,922. It is essential that Dublin City Council address their social housing supply deficit as increasing supply is the only sustainable solution to the homeless challenge. My Department will do all it can to assist in this regard.

I am focused on accelerating supply, and as well as the record investment have introduced a number of initiatives to assist local authorities. For example, in July I announced that I would be introducing a single stage approval process for all social housing projects under €200m to increase and speed up the delivery of new homes. My Department will continue to engage with Dublin City council in respect of increasing their Social Housing delivery.