1944. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures being taken to increase the supply of homes at price points affordable to single first-time buyers, particularly in Cork; whether specific consideration is being given to the housing needs of people who earn above the thresholds for certain State supports but remain unable to purchase on the private market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63592/26]

Affordability and the chance to own a home is at the heart of the Government’s housing policy, as embodied within the housing action plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities.

The plan builds upon the significant progress made under the previous plan Housing for All. One of the key priorities in the plan is a commitment to deliver more starter homes to buy and rent at affordable levels. To achieve this, existing affordable housing supports have been retained and developed to form a Starter Homes Programme, backed by an unprecedented level of investment by Government, through the National Development Plan.

Since 2021, when Housing for All was published, to the end of Q1 2026, over 24,000 starter home supports have been provided nationwide, by way of measures to assist people to buy or rent. This includes over 1,300 in Cork City and 1,700 in Cork County.

In total, Cork City Council has obtained funding approval for 12 schemes to deliver 559 starter homes with the support of the Affordable Housing Fund by end 2027, many of which have already been delivered. In addition, Cork County Council has obtained funding approval for 21 schemes, supported by the Affordable Housing Fund, to deliver 825 starter homes by end 2028.

40 cost rental homes are due to be delivered in the Cork County Council local authority area, through the Cost Rental Equity Loan Scheme (CREL). The Land Development Agency is also delivering housing in Cork, with the delivery of 92 starter homes at Clonmore.

My Department publishes comprehensive programme-level statistics on a quarterly basis for starter home delivery provision by local authorities and delivery partners, for each local authority area. Data from 2022 to the end of Q1 2026, including for the Cork City and County areas, is currently published on the statistics page of my Departments website, linked below.

www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/collections/overall-social-and-affordable-housing-provision/.

In order to further drive the delivery of starter homes under the new plan, local authorities, including Cork City and Cork County Council, will shortly commence the preparation of new Housing Delivery Action Plans (HDAPs) for review by my Department, setting out how the Starter Homes Programme will be implemented within their area. These plans will be completed and published by the local authorities during 2026.

My Department will continue to work closely with the local authorities and the other delivery partners, including the construction sector, to accelerate starter home delivery, thereby providing purchase and rental opportunities to enable people to secure affordable homes.