Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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563. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to provide affordable housing in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66144/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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Affordability and the chance to own a home is at the heart of Government’s housing policy, as embodied within the new housing plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025 – 2030. The new plan reinforces and expands upon the significant progress made under Housing for All, with nearly 16,900 affordable housing solutions having been delivered since its launch.

In order to drive the delivery of affordable housing, all local authorities will prepare new Housing Delivery Action Plans (HDAP’s), replacing their plan made under Housing for All, which will set out how the Starter Homes Programme will be implemented within their administrative areas. This development of their HDAP’s will be undertaken in collaboration with delivery partners, including the Land Development Agency, Approved Housing Bodies and the development sector, and will be informed by local needs, taking account of the requirement to provide the right mix of homes within their area.

My Department publishes comprehensive programme level statistics on a quarterly basis on affordable housing delivery activity by local authorities and other delivery partners. Delivery data up to end Q2 2025 is published on the statistics page of my Department’s website, at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/ .

My Department has also met with the Housing Delivery team in Kerry County Council to support their work towards the identification and development of appropriate proposals which may lead to the delivery of affordable housing, including with the support of the Affordable Housing Fund, in response to localised needs identified by the local authority at key urban locations such as Killarney and Tralee.

In support of regeneration policies, the Ready to Build serviced sites scheme is available, which supports local authorities to provide sites at a discount to people who want to build their own home. Other affordable supports, such as the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant and the First Home Scheme are also available to eligible applicants in Kerry.

My Department, the Housing Agency and Housing Delivery Co-ordination Office of the Local Government Management Association continue to be available to assist Kerry County Council in relation to the ongoing development of its response to meeting affordable housing needs in Kerry.