‘One of the most basic and essential needs’: Kilkenny TD welcomes new housing delivery figures

Housing commencements increased over a two-year period, despite a drop last year

Published 17th Jan 2026, 12:00 BST House prices have risen in Limerick city and county Housing commencements increased over a two-year period, despite a drop last year Fianna Fáíl TD, Peter ‘Chap’ Cleere, has welcomed new commencement data from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage this week that Kilkenny has seen 1,400 new homes started over the last two years - a 36% increase over the preceding two-year period.

The data shows that 269 new homes were commenced in Kilkenny in 2025. This is lower than the 2024 total due to the fact that the 2024 activity was significantly boosted by Government initiatives, including the development levy waiver and the Úisce Éireann rebate, which helped to fast-track a number of projects toward commencement.

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Fourteen hundred housing units were commenced in Kilkenny across 2024 and 2025 combined. This marks a 36% increase on the 1,023 units commenced during the previous two-year period (2022-2023), highlighting a substantial uplift in construction activity within the county.

Speaking on the latest figures, Deputy Cleere said: “Housing is the number one priority of this Government. December saw a sharp rise in 3,065 home starts across the country, which is double compared to the month previous”.

He added: “I believe this is a result of key policy changes announced by the Minister in the first year of Government, providing critical certainty in terms of the policy framework and the significant funding commitments made by Government”.

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Deputy Cleere went on to say that while he believes progress is being made, more must be done.

“The signs are encouraging, especially in Kilkenny, with 2,287 units commenced in the last five years. However, we are acutely aware this is not enough and we must and will do more. That is why the Government has taken a number of actions through the changes made by Minister Browne, including the new Housing Action Plan”.

Concluding, Deputy Cleere said, as 2026 and the following years progress, we will see the benefits of the new plan in action.

“Having a place to call home is one of the most basic and essential needs in life”, he said. “The new Housing Action Plan creates the best possible environment for delivery of homes. This also includes relevant infrastructure like water, electricity and roads”.

“As our Plan is being implemented with huge urgency, we expect to see commencements year on year across the constituency. In Fianna Fáil we are committed to building on the foundations laid in Housing for All, and through our new housing plan, momentum will continue to build for faster housing delivery”.

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