The Government has confirmed it will spend €3 billion delivering 11,250 new build social homes as part of Budget 2027, with Finance Minister Simon Harris declaring the issue of housing to be the Government’s “number one priority.”
Speaking during his budget address in the Dáil today, the Fine Gael Minister said that overall state funding for the sector has “nearly quadrupled.”
Harris argued that the rising cost of accommodation was heavily impacting ordinary citizens.
“Ceann Comhairle, we have acknowledged that this Budget is coming at a time when the cost of living is looming large for our people,” he said.
“When it comes to the everyday cost of living and the longer term, structural changes we want to make, high rents and high house prices are a key driver of high costs.”
The Fine Gael leader went on to claim that the coalition was making unprecedented investments in the area to alleviate the pressure.
“That is why housing has been this Government’s number one priority,” he continued.
“This year we will spend over €9 billion building new homes. In total, funding for housing under this Government and its predecessor has nearly quadrupled. And we will continue to do more.”
Meanwhile, Public Expenditure Minister Jack Chambers outlined the specific financial allocations for the housing sector over the coming year.
Addressing the Dáil during the same session, the Fianna Fáil Minister revealed that €9.4 billion was being directed towards the Department of Housing in 2027.
“To support the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage in 2027, I am allocating €9.4 billion,” he said.
“This includes €2.2 billion to continue to support the social housing needs of 110,000 households through the Housing Assistance, Rental Accommodation and Social Housing Current Expenditure Schemes…and investment in emergency supports for those facing homelessness, with targeted supports for families experiencing homelessness.”
Chambers also confirmed further capital funding for vulnerable families, urban regeneration, and large-scale construction projects.
“I am allocating €5.6 billion in capital funding which will include €3 billion to fund social housing delivery including 11,250 new build social homes,” he added.
“…Under the Starter Homes Programme, over €1 billion will be allocated to deliver thousands of starter homes through a range of affordability supports, alongside the Help to Buy Initiative.”
The Minister stated that €225 million would be set aside for the Housing Infrastructure Investment Fund.
He noted that over €360 million was being used to address specific needs such as adaptation grants and retrofitting, while a further €350 million would support the regeneration of urban areas.
The budget announcements come just days after an unearthed government document revealed that more than 28% of households eligible for social housing support are foreign nationals.
As reported by Gript this week, the Housing Agency’s latest assessment showed that 17,728 of the 61,719 qualified households on the list as of the 3rd of November 2025 were non-citizens.
Full 2025 social housing application list by nationality revealed
Within the non-EEA category, 3,193 households were classified as refugees, representing a 64.1% increase compared to the previous year.
The issue was recently discussed by Taoiseach Micheál Martin, who incorrectly claimed during a Fox News interview in New York that only Irish citizens were entitled to state accommodation.
Under current law, individuals can access social housing support if they have established a long-term and lawful right of residence in the country.
Additional figures showed that 34% of social housing allocations in Louth since 2020 went to non-citizens.