Government set to miss social housing targets despite 'strong growth'

Across the first nine months of 2025, 3,143 new-build social homes were delivered, over 48% higher than the same period in 2024 (2,120) and above outputs for Q1–Q3 in both 2023 (2,638) and 2022 (2,704). File photo

The Government is set to miss its social housing targets despite what the Department of Housing called "strong growth and robust pipelines".

Figures released on Monday for the third quarter of 2025 show that 1,605 new social homes were delivered, comprising 1,330 new-builds, 120 acquisitions, and 155 through leasing programmes. The number of new-build homes is 40.6% higher than the same quarter in 2024, when 946 were delivered.

Including Housing Assistance Payment, (1,712) and the Rental Accommodation Scheme (440), a total of 3,757 housing supports were provided in Q3 2025.

Across the first nine months of 2025, 3,143 new-build social homes were delivered, over 48% higher than the same period in 2024 (2,120) and above outputs for Q1–Q3 in both 2023 (2,638) and 2022 (2,704).

However, Sinn Féin's housing spokesperson Eoin O Broin said that in the first nine months of this year, 3,143 new-build social homes were delivered, just 31% of the annual target of 10,000.

During the same period, Mr O Broin said, 925 cost-rental and 563 affordable purchase homes were completed by councils, Approved Housing Bodies and the Land Development Agency which equates to 39% of the cost-rental target of 2,350 homes and 24% of the affordable purchase target of 2,100.

“Meanwhile, subsidised private rental accommodation in schemes such as HAP, RAS and long-term leasing make up almost 60% of the total output in the first nine months of the year. This highlights once again the government’s overreliance on an expensive and insecure private rental sector to meet social housing need.

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“It is also concerning that just 461 second-hand acquisitions have been completed in the nine months from January to September. This includes vital homeless prevention schemes like tenant-in-situ and housing first.

“In 2024, there were a total of 1,540 such acquisitions. Cuts to funding and increased restrictions on these schemes in 2025 will result in significantly fewer acquisitions and in turn increased homeless presentations.

“It is clear from these figures that the minister for housing James Browne is asleep at the wheel. At the end of his first year in office, he is missing his social and affordable housing targets just like his predecessor."

Mr O Broin criticised Mr Browne for not releasing the figures while the Dáil was still sitting last week.