The government has announced an ambitious new housing strategy aimed at delivering 300,000 homes in Ireland by 2030, including 72,000 social housing units, though the plan has drawn immediate criticism for failing to set annual targets.
The ‘Delivering Homes, Building Communities’ plan was launched by Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Housing Minister James Brown, who described homelessness as “the most important social problem facing the country.” However, opposition parties have attacked the initiative, with Sinn Féin accusing the government of “putting old wine in new bottles.”
Key Financial Commitments
The plan includes €1 billion for an Infrastructure Fund to address bottlenecks hindering housing construction, with a Housing Activation Office working through local authorities to identify and resolve obstacles. The Land Development Agency will receive €2.5 billion to accelerate home delivery.
An additional €100 million will be allocated to purchase second-hand properties to help families who have been homeless the longest transition out of emergency accommodation. The government projects that increased housing supply will reduce reliance on emergency accommodation.
Housing First and Social Housing
The plan features a Child and Family Action Plan aimed at providing 2,000 rental homes through the Housing First program. It also promises continued investment in high-quality Traveller-specific accommodation and more housing options suitable for older people in the private sector.
Private Sector Support
The strategy includes 90,000 starter homes designed to support the private sector through the provision of zoned and serviced land. A new €400 million equity scheme will help small construction companies build homes, with €28.2 billion in total government spending committed to housing construction.
Infrastructure Investment
Recognizing that housing delivery depends on supporting infrastructure, the plan allocates €12.2 billion for water and sewage services, €3.5 billion for ESB Networks and EirGrid, and €24.3 billion for transport.
Tackling Vacant Properties
Up to €140,000 per property will be provided to convert vacant shops and buildings into residential units, including funding for expert advice on conversions. The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant will offer €20,000 to bring abandoned homes back into use, with an Above the Top Up Grant also available.
A new derelict property tax will be introduced by the Revenue Commissioners to discourage property owners from leaving buildings unused.
Extended Schemes
The Living City Initiative will be extended until 2030 and expanded to include properties in Athlone, Drogheda, Dundalk, Letterkenny and Sligo. The Help to Buy scheme, which allows homebuyers to claim up to €30,000 in tax relief, will also run until the end of 2030.
The First Homes Scheme will be expanded beyond new builds to help first-time buyers purchase and renovate abandoned or long-term vacant properties, prioritizing the return of derelict housing stock to use.
No Annual Targets Spark Controversy
The government’s decision not to include annual targets has become the plan’s most contentious element. Tánaiste Simon Harris described housing construction as “a national emergency and the biggest challenge facing the country,” while Minister Brown defended the approach by saying data on housing completions would be made available annually.
Taoiseach Martin acknowledged that setting annual targets was “difficult,” with Brown adding that the plan focused on “effectively combining the public and private sectors to achieve the maximum” rather than simply increasing numbers.
Opposition Attacks Plan as Inadequate
Sinn Féin housing spokesman Eoin Ó Broin dismissed the lack of annual targets as “a sham,” arguing it prevents the opposition and public from tracking government progress. He alleged the targets were omitted because the government knows they cannot be achieved.
“The king is still not dressed,” Ó Broin said. “This is not a new housing plan. This is a new version of the failed Darragh O’Brien housing plan.”
Ó Broin accused the government of ignoring recommendations from the Housing Commission regarding the housing deficit and claimed the plan fails to address root causes of the crisis. He disputed the notion that delivering 50,000 new homes annually would resolve Ireland’s housing emergency.
The plan’s launch comes as homelessness figures remain at record levels and housing availability continues to constrain economic growth and quality of life across Ireland. The government insists its comprehensive approach, combining public investment with private sector support and vacant property activation, represents the most realistic path to meeting the country’s housing needs by the end of the decade.