Ongoing investment in housing, local government and heritage was announced on Budget Day for the year ahead, when an overall package of €6.3bn was unveiled, including an investment of more than €4bn in the Government’s housing strategy, combined with vacant property tax and measures to assist renters to strengthen progress made under ‘Housing for All’ during 2023.

The €6.3bn funding measures will be instrumental in delivering homes, supports, services, infrastructure and amenities for citizens across Ireland, according to Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien TD.

The Government is making Exchequer funding of €4bn available for the delivery of available for social and affordable housing programmes, of which €2.6bn is capital and will be complemented by investment under the Housing Finance Agency and the Land Development Agency. 

“More than €1.3bn will be invested in affordability measures in 2023 including for the delivery of 5,550 affordable purchase and cost rental homes, the First Home Scheme, Local Authority Home Loan and Help-to-Buy. We’re making significant changes to our cost rental and affordable housing funding models meaning that local authorities and AHB’s can deliver homes at lower rents and significantly discounted prices. 

“In 2023, 11,830 social homes will be delivered including 9,100 new build homes, building on our 2022 targets. 9,600 new households will have their needs met through the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) and the Rent Assistance Scheme (RAS) – these represent direct supports for renting households.”

Funding of €215m will be made available for the delivery of homeless services, in a bid to ensure that local authorities can provide homeless preventions services, emergency accommodation and other services to households experiencing, or at risk of homelessness.