Councils facing 'serious measures' over housing inaction, says minister

"I think this is the biggest test of local democracy in decades," said housing minister James Browne, as he criticised local councils for not zoning more land for housing.

Wed, 18 Feb, 2026 - 19:21

Paul Hosford

The Government is examining "serious measures" to address councils which do not zone sufficient land for housing.

Housing minister James Browne said that just Mayo and Waterford councils had completed the process of rezoning lands for housing, calling it "an existential test" for local democracy.

Mr Browne said he was concerned that councils were "not stepping up to the mark" and zoning land for housing.

"I'm very concerned about a number of local authorities who really are not stepping up to the mark at all in terms of either speed or in terms of rezoning sufficient lands that are needed for homes to be built on," he said.

"I think this is the biggest test of local democracy in decades."

Mr Browne said local democracy has "over the last 20 years been strengthened and given more and more independence". However, he added that "if local authorities are not going to step up to the mark here... it's quite existential for local democracy".

Mr Browne said that "the fundamental purpose of local authorities is that they are housing authorities".

Sufficient land for housing needed to be made available "because it is the most fundamental thing that any local authority" is able to provide housing for citizens.

Mr Browne said councillors "want to zone land", but there are "certain local authorities where senior officials don't want to step up and to do what is their duty, to zone land".

The Government is not going to allow that to happen.

"So if local authorities are not going to provide the land for homes to be built on, then Government will have to take some serious measures, and they are being examined."

Asked if he was concerned that there would be too much zoning in some areas, Mr Browne said more zoned land was needed than bare housing demand.

"I think what we've got a constrained housing delivery as a result of a lack of zoning," he said. "Remember, zoning is only one step. You then have to get planning permission. There's commencement notices, and we know that only about 50% of all planning, for example, is ever activated."