Record surge in social housing delivery this year
A historic rise in new-build social homes has been recorded in the first half of 2026, marking the strongest start ever for social housing construction. The Department of Housing reveals continued expansion in the housing pipeline, signalling further growth across Ireland.
Source:
Gov.ie / MerrionStreet
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⏱️ 1 min read
The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has announced unprecedented progress in social housing delivery for the first six months of 2026, with a total of 2,731 new-build homes completed. This represents a remarkable 51% increase compared to the same period in 2025, setting a new record for first-half social housing output.
In the second quarter alone, 2,008 new homes were finished, a 38% rise year-on-year, while combined housing supports—including leasing, acquisitions, and schemes like the Housing Assistance Payment and Rental Accommodation Scheme—totalled 4,320 units. Typically, most social housing completions occur in the latter half of the year, highlighting the strong momentum achieved early on.
Minister James Browne TD expressed optimism about these results, emphasising the government’s commitment to accelerating construction and delivering more homes for families in need. At the end of June, over 22,000 social homes were either under construction or in design stages, reflecting a robust pipeline. Recent reforms to turnkey development processes are expected to reinforce steady progress and improve delivery certainty across local authorities nationwide. Full project details are available on the official government website.
In the second quarter alone, 2,008 new homes were finished, a 38% rise year-on-year, while combined housing supports—including leasing, acquisitions, and schemes like the Housing Assistance Payment and Rental Accommodation Scheme—totalled 4,320 units. Typically, most social housing completions occur in the latter half of the year, highlighting the strong momentum achieved early on.
Minister James Browne TD expressed optimism about these results, emphasising the government’s commitment to accelerating construction and delivering more homes for families in need. At the end of June, over 22,000 social homes were either under construction or in design stages, reflecting a robust pipeline. Recent reforms to turnkey development processes are expected to reinforce steady progress and improve delivery certainty across local authorities nationwide. Full project details are available on the official government website.
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