Dublin City Council 'around 8,000 short' to meet housing targets for 2030

Dublin City Council have a delivery target of nearly 20,000 new homes by 2030, but Assistant Chief Executive Mick Mulhern reveals their current figures have them coming up short

Comments News Stephen Holland Local Democracy Reporter 12:43, 17 Jul 2026 Updated 12:43, 17 Jul 2026 View 2 Images Stock image (Image: Getty Images)

Dublin City Council figures show they are “around 8,000 short” to reach housing delivery targets for 2030 .

At the most recent Housing SPC held on Monday, Assistant Chief Executive Mick Mulhern revealed the Department of Housing has given the council a target of 19,384 new homes over four years. This includes 10,158 social homes and 9,226 starter homes, which is a new term set to replace affordable and cost rental housing.

Looking at DCC’s known pipeline for delivery, he admits the council is coming up short. But, Mr Mulhern said currently little information on delivery by Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) post 2028 is available and delivery by the Land Development Agency (LDA) on land they own is not included in their figures. He stated they will be meeting with delivery partners over the coming weeks, and will come back to councillors in September with a “clear picture” on the “actual target gap”.

View 2 Images Dublin City Council's known housing pipeline 2026 - 2030 (Image: Dublin City Council)

Mr Mulhern expressed doubt that, as it currently stands, the delivery will be able to meet the target of nearly 20,000 given by the Department. “I think it will either be alarming or maybe we’ll be a bit more optimistic about it,” he said of the potential outcome of their meetings.

“If you’re not already working on a scheme it’s unlikely you’ll see delivery on that before the end of 2030. If you are going to a site fresh tomorrow, actual completions in a four and half year period will be really challenging. That’s not to say it won’t happen and it can be done, but I think it will be a risk,” he said.

In order to address shortfalls in housing delivery, DCC is now preparing the Housing Development Action Plan (HDAP) 2027-2030. The first step of this is an overall assessment of actual housing demand done in conjunction with the council’s planning department.

Executive Manager Ruth Dowling said this based on four core principles: Evidence based planning which examines population trends, strategic alignment with local and national policies, balanced and integrated delivery with a mix of approaches and partners, and ensuring deliverability and risk management.

A needs demand assessment will be compared to the council’s existing housing list and target from the Department of Housing. A programme across tenure types, funding streams, delivery partners will be developed, along with identifying new lands for housing. DCC aims to publish their Housing Action Plan before the end of the year.

One key action Ms Dowling outlined is the need for DCC to “validate their pipeline,” as there are so many different bodies involved in social housing delivery that they must consolidate the overall figures. With homes delivered directly by DCC, AHBs, and the LDA, a cohesive plan is needed to ensure the right mix of tenure and appropriately address the great need for three and four-bedroom homes.

Sinn Féin Councillor Daithí Doolan stressed there is a major “pressure point” for three and four-bedroom homes on DCC’s housing list, with many families in long-term homelessness requiring them. Independent Cllr Christy Burke stated some families have been waiting nearly two decades on the housing list for three and four bed homes and requested a breakdown of the need across tenures.

Sinn Féin Cllr Janice Boylan said there has been a “breakdown in communication” around the housing list, and said people who have waited “for 15 years” have never properly had all the different available schemes explained to them. “There are people on the list for centuries who don’t have a full understanding of how the schemes work, more info around that would be helpful,” she said.

Social Democrats Cllr Mary Callaghan welcomed the data driven approach to the action plan, and said previous studies pointed to a lack of studios, one and two-bedroom homes, which may have been over corrected as they now face a serious lack of larger homes.

She also highlighted work being done to encourage people in homes larger than they need to consider rightsizing . While moving can be a daunting prospect, Cllr Callaghan questioned if the council could do more to encourage people or even assist them in the process.

Deputy Lord Mayor Alison Field highlighted the potential for DCC to address housing needs through rightsizing and said she has been in contact with constituents who are interested in the prospect. But, the inability for private home owners to trade with the council and rightsizing does put limits on this potential, with Ms Dowling citing a prior scheme that’s no longer running that used to make it possible.

DCC’s Housing Development Action Plan is currently at the preparation stage. The main issues it aims to address are: Ensuring the right quantity of new builds, finding a balance between social and affordable homes, reducing their ‘gap to target,’ and reviewing housing pipeline in relation to homes for older people, those with disabilities, and Travellers.

The Housing Development Action Plan (HDAP) 2027-2030 is expected to be published on Dublin City Council’s website by November, 2026.

This content is funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme

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