Leas Cheann Comhairle Deputy John McGuinness is very pleased to announce that Minister James Browne has given money for the development of 30 new homes in Kilkenny under Social housing New-Build Projects.
“The government is committed to housing and has a diverse list of plans which they are currently rolling out across Ireland”, he commented.
The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne T.D., confirmed on Monday 31st March 2025 that he has allocated €436m to meet social housing needs.
This includes capital funding allocations totalling €325m which have now been notified to local authorities in respect of the second-hand social housing acquisitions programme for 2025.
Minister Browne has also allocated €111m for 82 new social housing projects which will provide over 1,300 newly built homes with a total development cost value of €517m. This €111m has been allocated from the €450m for social and affordable housing recently announced by Government
Social housing New-Build Projects
The approvals issued in recent weeks provide funding in 2025 to progress 82 projects which will deliver 1,325 homes over the period 2025 – 2027, 575 of which will be delivered this year.
Speaking about the funding for new-build social homes, Minister Browne emphasised:
“The Government’s commitment to the new-build social housing programme as increasing overall housing supply is key to addressing the housing challenge and in particular preventing and ultimately eliminating long term homelessness. That is why Government has set ambitious targets for new-build social housing in the Programme for Government of an average 12,000 homes per annum out to 2030. To meet this ambition, we need to scale up supply, and these approvals represent a further expansion of the new-build social housing pipeline.”
Second-Hand Social Housing Acquisitions Programme
Funding of €325m will support the second-hand acquisitions programme which has been an important element in the prevention of homelessness since Government introduced the Tenant-in-Situ acquisitions stream in 2023.
The 2025 second-hand acquisitions programme will provide for the acquisition of second-hand homes for the following priority needs:
- Tenant-in-Situ Acquisitions;
- Older persons and persons with a disability;
- Exits from homeless services; and
- Buy and Renew acquisitions which tackle vacancy
Under revised arrangements for 2025, local authorities have received a capital funding allocation for the acquisition of second-hand dwellings. The authorities can target this funding at their discretion – whether on tenant in situ purchases or other purposes – allowing them the flexibility to respond to local needs and demand within the categories of acquisitions being supported.
Speaking about the funding for the second-hand acquisitions programme Minister Browne reiterated Government’s commitment to the acquisitions programme and the tenant-in-situ acquisition stream, given its important role in the prevention of homelessness.
