“New housing plan adopts a zero tolerance approach to obstacles” 

Minister Christopher O’Sullivan has welcomed Fianna Fáil’s new housing plan which aims to cut through bureaucracy and empower the private sector to deliver more homes.

According to Minister O’Sullivan the plan “takes a zero-tolerance approach to obstacles and introduces major changes to how we deliver infrastructure while addressing barriers that have grown in recent years across the legal system, planning, regulation and procurement.”

The plan launched today by Minister James Browne builds on the progress made under Housing for All and the 137,000 homes delivered since the start of 2021.

Minister O’Sullivan said “We have learned from Housing for all, and we are adapting. Despite record investment, the State can only do so much. To deliver more homes at speed the state will do more to empower others, particularly the private sector, to play their part.

“Every part of society has a role in this plan. Government will lead with record investment and strong direction, but success will depend on local authorities the Land Development Agency Approved Housing Bodies and the private sector working together.

Minister O’Sullivan continued “Fianna Fáil’s plan aims to significantly accelerate private sector delivery by creating the right conditions for investment. It removes unnecessary bureaucracy through regulatory reform. It provides tax incentives to encourage building and is backed by the largest capital investment in the history of the State.”

“Fianna Fáil is putting a strong focus on vacant and derelict homes. Under this new housing plan there will be more staff and funding to tackle vacancy a new Vacant Property Tax and an expanded Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant. Banks will also work with the State so the First Home Scheme can be used to bring more empty and derelict properties back into use.

“This plan should not be seen in isolation. The targeted tax measures introduced in Budget 2026 to encourage private sector delivery are now underway and are backed by the largest capital investment in the history of the State, with €275 billion allocated over the next ten years through the National Development Plan.

Concluding Minister O’Sullivan stated:

“A greater supply of housing will come from directly supporting people to have a home of their own and creating the right conditions for builders to deliver. This plan does both and sets out a clear path to increase supply.”

END

Note to Editor:

Key Measures in the housing plan include:

Supporting People Experiencing Homelessness

1. €100m in 2026 to purchase second-hand homes to support the exit of families from homelessness
2. A new cross-department and cross-agency Child and Family Homelessness Action plan to address homelessness urgently.
3. Increased capital funding for local authorities and AHBs to provide emergency and transitional accommodation

Affordable Homes

1. Teams in all local authorities focusing exclusively on delivering affordable and social
2. First Home Scheme expanded to derelict and long-term vacant homes
3. Starter Homes Programme to deliver 15,000 affordable homes annually via The First Home Scheme, the Help to Buy scheme, Vacant Property Refurbishment Grants and Starter Home Purchase Scheme

Infrastructure Delivery

1. €28.2bn funding for housing and related infrastructure
2. Enable Developers to deliver new standalone wastewater treatment plants

Faster Delivery

1. Ready to Build Scheme - Supporting SME builders to build on serviced sites
2. Expansion of the Land Acquisition Fund to €500 to support AHBs and local Authorities provide housing units
3. Modern Methods of Construction for 25% of all new social and affordable homes
4. Support for 3D Volumetric system projects to bolster demand of these units
5. Revamped local authority voids programme to incentivise quicker turnaround of vacant social homes

Accountability in Housing

Quarterly data publication on housing stats per local authority

Ending Dereliction

1. New Derelict Property Tax to encourage reuse of empty homes
2. Vacant Property Grant expanded with 'Above the Shop' & Expert Advice supports
3. Living City Initiative extended to 2030 & expanded to Athlone, Drogheda, Dundalk, Letterkeny and Sligo

Planning

1. Housing Activation Unit is operation; 31 meetings to date - identifying blockages and coordinating solutions to deliver housing faster
2. Delivery of more 1 and 4 bedroom homes
3. Increased support for rightsizing homes
4. €34m for Traveller specific accommodation in 2026
5. Clarity and consistency for rural housing and housing in Gaeltacht

Supporting victims of domestic, sexual & gender-based violence

Victims can transfer their time on social housing waiting lists when moving to another local authority ensuring safety doesn't mean starting over

Review of HAP rent limits

€400m Equity Risk Capital Investment

Boosting Apartment Delivery

1. Major measures to cut costs & increase supply, including:
2. VAT cut to 9% on apartments
3. Tax supports & exemptions for cost rental homes
4. New Planning & Design Standards saving up to €160,000 per unit
5. New Rent Framework to boost investment & stability