Minister celebrates housing figures as Council admits delivery 'target gap'

Minister for Housing James Browne is celebrating a 76% increase in national affordable housing supports, while at the same time Dublin City Council officials express doubt they will meet the government's targets they have been given for housing

News Stephen Holland Local Democracy Reporter 12:44, 17 Aug 2026 View Image Housing Minister James Browne and Taoiseach Micheal Martin (Image: PA Wire/PA Images)

While the Minister for Housing celebrates a 76% increase in national affordable housing supports, Dublin City Council is warning it faces an 8,000-home deficit against government delivery targets.

Minister for Housing James Browne today announced that over 2,000 affordable home supports were delivered nationwide in Q1 2026, driven by growth in the Starter Homes Scheme and a 317% jump in Cost Rental units. But inside Dublin City Council , officials admit meeting the Department's target of 19,384 new homes by 2030 will be a challenge.

Speaking at July’s Housing SPC meeting, Assistant Chief Executive Mick Mulhern revealed that current delivery pipelines leave the council " around 8,000 short ". "If you are going to a site fresh tomorrow, actual completions in a four and a half year period will be really challenging," Mr Mulhern warned councillors, noting that while delivery can happen, there is a target gap.

The Starter Homes for Purchase Scheme saw an increase of more than 122% in the first quarter of 2026, compared to the same period last year. This saw 287 homes delivered. Since the scheme was introduced in 2022, more than 2,700 Starter Homes for Purchase have now been delivered through local authorities, Approved Housing Bodies, and the Land Development Agency.

"We are seeing strong performance across the delivery of all affordable housing supports for the first quarter of the year. It builds on what was already record delivery last year and provides a solid foundation for continued progress throughout 2026,” Minister Browne stated.

"Affordable home supports are critical to people and are enabling individuals and families across the country to become homeowners, access secure long-term rental accommodation at below-market rents and bring vacant properties back into residential use.”

Cost Rental delivery also recorded substantial growth nationally during the first quarter of the year, with 472 new Cost Rental homes delivered - an increase of 317% compared to Q1 2025. Since the tenure’s launch, more than 6,600 Cost Rental homes have been delivered nationally by Approved Housing Bodies, local authorities, the Land Development Agency, and through the Cost Rental Tenant-in-Situ Scheme.

The First Home Scheme also aims to support eligible purchasers to bridge the gap between their mortgage, deposit and the cost of a newly built home. The First Home scheme saw a 63% increase on delivery in Q1 2026 (442 supports drawn down) compared to the same period from Q1 2025 (271 supports drawn down).

The take-up of the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant is also on the rise, with 816 grants paid during Q1 2026, representing a 29.3% increase compared with the same period in 2025. “The continued growth in grant payments demonstrates the success of the scheme in returning vacant and derelict properties to productive residential use, while at the same time supporting the regeneration of towns, villages, and rural communities across Ireland,” a spokesperson from the Department of Housing said.

While a strong first-quarter performance across all affordable housing supports buildings on the record delivery achieved in 2025, Mr Mulhern explained that DCC are meeting with their delivery partners to address the "target gap” within their local authority and will brief councillors in September with a “clear picture” of where they stand.

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, noting that little information on delivery by Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) post-2028 is available and their figures don’t include delivery by the Land Development Agency (LDA) on land they own.

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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