Government to appoint housing tsar within eight weeks, says minister

Government formally advertised for the position in October, offering a salary of €217,000

Housing minister James Browne speaking to the media at a press conference on the housing infrastructure investment fund. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA

The Government will appoint its new housing tsar at some point in the next eight weeks, housing minister James Browne has said.

Controversy erupted in 2025 over the Government’s plan to appoint Brendan McDonagh, the current chief executive of the National Asset Management Agency (Nama), as the head of its new Housing Activation Office. 

Mr McDonagh was expected to retain his Nama remuneration of around €430,000 when seconded to the office.

The controversy led to Mr McDonagh withdrawing his name from consideration and an open competition for the position.

In October, the Government formally advertised for the position, offering a salary of €217,000. 

The individual selected would be responsible for driving housing supply.

On Wednesday, Mr Browne said the recruitment process is ongoing and he expects an appointment “sometime over the next eight weeks”.

He said applications for the position were received from both the public and private sector, but declined to indicate who may be selected for the position.

“It is an ongoing hiring process, so I can't really comment much beyond that; to say that it was open to both, and I know both public and private did apply, and I think that will come to finalisation in the coming weeks.”

Mr Browne said the Housing Activation Office has been working since being established last year.

“Its principles have been activated and engaged with the local authorities,” he said.

Mr Browne was speaking as the Government launched the first call of a €1bn housing infrastructure investment fund, which aims to increase the delivery of infrastructure that can enable housebuilding.

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The fund will be open to local authorities and the Land Development Agency.

Asked about the specific projects that could be funded under the scheme, Mr Browne said it could be used to deal with flooding issues, link roads to sites, or dealing with ESB issues.

He said it is not possible to estimate how many homes may built through this funding scheme.

“In relation to the number of homes, we’ll have a clear sense of that at the end of the application process,” said Mr Browne.

He said local authorities have been asked to set out how many houses they can deliver with this extra funding.

Mr Browne said he expected local authorities to be provided with the funding this year, explaining that projects need to be completed in 2026, 2027, or 2028 by the very latest.

“They [local authorities] know this application is coming and I think any local authority who is not ready, who cannot put their application in on time, that’s really on those local authorities.”

Mr Browne said housing is being delivered at a local authority level, saying the Government is seeking to “put as much pressure on them as possible”.

Tánaiste Simon Harris said the “list of the challenges and excuses as to why not enough homes are being built in this country is now beginning to run somewhat dry”.

He cited reforms brought in by the Government, including reforms to the planning system and additional funding provided to the Land Development Agency.