Government under fire over plans to sell LDA homes on private market in Dublin

Later this year new rules are set to allow the Land Development Agency (LDA) to sell 30% of their Dublin homes on the private market, which Sinn Féin Councillor Daithí Doolan has slammed as "short sighted"

News Stephen Holland Local Democracy Reporter 16:39, 20 Jul 2026 View Image Sinn Féin Councillor Daithi Doolan (Image: Sam Boal/Collins)

Proposed changes to Ireland’s affordable housing agency rules are “short sighted” and will “only contribute to the housing crisis” according to one Sinn Féin councillor.

Ballyfermot-Drimnagh Cllr Daithí Doolan has responded to proposed changes that would allow the Land Development Agency (LDA) to sell up to 30% of their homes on the private market in Dublin . The Irish Times has reported the changes are set to proceed under planned legislation later this year.

Reportedly, the rationale is that the proceeds could fund a better mix of housing types within the LDA’s developments. Another reason is to recycle the proceeds of private sales to build more public and private homes elsewhere.

A government source quoted in the report stated: “Being able to provide more homes, faster, and doing so with a tenure-mix across all home types is essential.”

In Dublin and in towns with populations exceeding 150,000, the LDA currently must reserve 20% of their homes for social, affordable and cost rental housing. A separate Part V accounts for the remaining 20%, meaning all LDA homes in Dublin are currently social, affordable or cost rental.

In smaller towns, the LDA must reserve 50% of their homes for social, affordable and cost rental housing, with the same Part V accounting for another 20%. Meaning outside of Dublin and Cork , 30% of homes can already be sold on the private market.

The government is now looking to apply these same metrics to Dublin and Cork and allow homes built on state land to be sold on the private market. Cllr Doolan has blasted these changes as he believes they will “totally undermine local authorities ability to deliver housing that meets the needs of Dublin”.

“The changes will allow for up to 30% of homes delivered by the Land Development Agency on state-owned land to be sold on the private market.

“This totally flies in the face of what is really needed in Dublin. We urgently need council and real affordable housing delivered as quickly as possible. The quickest and most efficient way to deliver this housing is on state owned land. Now the Government are planning to use state land to supply private housing. This is short sighted and will only contribute to the housing crisis.

“This clearly shows just how out of touch this government really is when it comes to meeting the needs of Dublin. This proves yet again we urgently need a government that works with us, not against us.

“Dublin’s local authorities, in line with the National Planning Directive, have rezoned rezoned land for thousands of more homes, much of it on private land. What we desperately need is developers to start developing, the Land Development Agency to start delivering social and affordable hosing and a government that assists local authorities. These proposals will do none of the this.

“We fully acknowledge that we need strong communities, with infrastructure and mixed tenures. This is exactly what our plans will deliver. Social housing and housing that is genuinely affordable to rent and buy. This will deliver sustainable housing that meets the needs of Dublin.

“These changes to the Land Development Agency need to be blocked. If the government are allowed to proceed they will only serve to deepen the housing crisis in Dublin and other cities and towns.”

This content is funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme

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