CABINET WILL TODAY sign off on €450 million funding that the government states will deliver 3,000 cost rental, affordable and social homes over three years. 

Over the weekend, The Journal reported that a memo for a substantial funding increase towards the delivery of housing would come alongside last night’s Cabinet committee on housing considering the updated National Planning Framework (NPF). 

The joint memo to be brought to government today by Public Expenditure Minister Jack Chambers and Minister for Housing James Browne comes as Sinn Féin’s housing spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin states that there is actually less money allocated to social and affordable housing this year than last.

Citing the Revised Estimates for 2025, he states the capital allocation for housing was €3.446bn in 2024 and €3.094bn for 2025, a difference of €371m.

Ó Broin said even with today’s announcement government is allocating less capital funding for social and affordable housing in 2025 that it spent in 2024.

“It’s simply not possible to deliver more social and affordable homes with less money,” he said.

The Cabinet memo on the Exchequer funding comes the day after the Taoiseach and Tánaiste and relevant ministers met to discussion solutions to the housing crisis that might appear in the government’s “revised” Housing for All plan.

Following yesterday’s meeting, a join statement from the Taoiseach and Tánaiste confirmed that ministers have been asked to prioritise the delivery of social and starter housing, the Short Term Letting and Tourism Bill, and commencement of a review of the rent pressure zones.

There will also be a focus on the delivery of utilities like water and electricity to service sites for housing development.

The implementation of the Planning and Development Bill and the roll out of Compulsory Purchase Order legislation will also be top of the agenda.

Related Reads

Starter homes, short-term let laws and rent cap review to be prioritised by government

Government set to sign off on substantial funding increase for housing next week

Government to publish 'revised' Housing for All plan, Tánaiste confirms

It was also agreed to advance the establishment of the Strategic Housing Activation Office to unblock infrastructure delays. Staff from the main utility providers will be seconded full-time to the unit. 

As reported by The Journal over the weekend, the Cabinet committee on housing also agreed to proceed with the Revised National Planning Framework.

This includes allowing the housing minister to give directions on accelerating spatial planning.

At yesterday’s meeting, there was also discussion on the Rural Wastewater Schemes to ensure that small and medium housing developments can take place across the country.