Summary: The Irish government has launched a sweeping new housing strategy aimed at tackling vacancy, expanding social housing, and delivering 90,000 starter homes. The plan comes after a year marked by missed construction targets and record levels of homelessness, intensifying pressure on ministers to act decisively.
The government will today unveiled its long-awaited National Housing Plan, a multi-billion-euro initiative designed to confront Ireland’s deepening housing crisis. The strategy pledges to deliver 90,000 starter homes, expand the annual target for social housing to 12,000 units, and bring 20,000 vacant properties back into use through refurbishment grants and incentives RTÉ Ireland TheJournal.ie.
Housing Minister James Browne described the plan as “the most significant housing investment in the state’s history”, emphasizing its dual focus on increasing supply and addressing affordability. A €2.5 billion funding injection for the Land Development Agency (LDA) will support land acquisition and development, while a €400 million equity package is earmarked for smaller construction firms to accelerate building RTÉ Ireland The Irish Post.
Key measures include:
- Vacancy reduction: Expanded grants of up to €14,000 per property to convert empty shops and premises into homes RTÉ Ireland.
- Social housing expansion: A commitment to build 12,000 new social homes annually, alongside affordable housing units TheJournal.ie O’Neill & Brennan.
- Starter homes: Delivery of 90,000 entry-level homes over the next decade, targeting young families and first-time buyers The Irish Post.
- Rental reforms: New provisions to end blanket bans on pets in tenancy agreements, reflecting broader efforts to modernize rental policy Leinster Express.
The plan follows a year of missed housing targets and record homelessness figures, with more than 13,000 people currently in emergency accommodation. Critics argue that previous strategies have failed to keep pace with demand, while advocacy groups warn that implementation will be the true test of government resolve.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin acknowledged the urgency, stating that “homelessness is the most visible symptom of a broken housing system, and this plan is about fixing it.”
While the blueprint has been welcomed as ambitious, analysts caution that delivery will depend on overcoming planning delays, construction bottlenecks, and rising costs. The government insists quarterly reviews will ensure accountability and progress.
The unveiling of this plan marks a pivotal moment in Ireland’s housing debate — a bid to restore confidence after years of shortfalls, and a signal that tackling vacancy, affordability, and homelessness is now a national priority.
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