Chambers to approve funding for development of 3,000 affordable homes

Minister for Housing James Browne. The measure is contained in a joint memo to be brought to Government by Mr Chambers and Mr Browne. Picture: Niall Carson/PA

Public Expenditure Minister Jack Chambers will give funding approval to develop nearly 3,000 additional social, affordable, and cost rental homes over the next three years.

The measure is contained in a joint memo to be brought to Government by Mr Chambers and Minister for Housing James Browne.

A further €450m will be allocated to the Department of Housing to deliver the projects across 2025, 2026, and 2027.

Meanwhile, the Government is to re-enter talks with so-called Section 39 workers in a bid to resolve a protracted pay dispute.

Thousands of Section 39 employees, who work on contract for the HSE, are paid less than those directly-employed HSE staff doing similar work.

Minister for Disability and Equality Norma Foley will update Cabinet today on its latest position ahead of the talks picking up at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC), after being adjourned last November.

The Government has committed to working with the voluntary sector through industrial relations mechanisms in an effort to progress pay issues impacting the delivery of disability services.

Union Siptu has accused the Government of failing to honour a pay agreement struck in 2023 and has balloted around 5,000 members for strike action.

It is understood that Ms Foley is now eager to reconvene so that improved pay can be delivered for the workers.

Furthermore, a new sub-Cabinet committee is to be set up to address water quality across the country.

It is one of 10 committees being set up that will oversee the implementation of government policy in a range of areas including trade and competitiveness, housing, health and migration.

Separately, Enterprise Minister Peter Burke will bring the new five-year IDA strategy to be reviewed by Cabinet as well as new legislation to enhance the offering of IDA and Enterprise Ireland grants that will be particularly focused on supporting indigenous enterprise.

Following Storm Éowyn, ministers will also be updated on measures being taken by Uisce Éireann, including the purchase 100 extra generators. 

Uisce Éireann distributed over 300 mobile generators in advance of the storm, but the unprecedented damage meant that back-up power generation in many locations could not compensate for the long power outages. 

It will now review its emergency generator capacity and examine alternative power solutions.

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Harris will reiterate the importance of Ireland's participation in this week's G20 forum of the world's leading economies in South Africa. 

Ireland's participation comes at a time when the global trading environment is in flux and will provide the opportunity to shape international approaches to potential economic shocks.