Cork city and county set to miss housing targets

Cork looks likely to miss its social and affordable housing targets, according to the latest public housing output figures released by the Department of Housing.

The social and affordable housing delivery figures for Q2 of this year were released last week, and show that — as of the end of June 2024 — just 27 homes under the Local Authority Affordable Purchase scheme have been delivered in Cork city and none in Cork county so far.

In 2023, 44 homes were delivered under this scheme in Cork city and 81 in Cork county – the Q2 figures represent an increase in both local authorities compared to this time last year.

Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien said: “The figures published today clearly show the scale of construction activity in the social housing sector.

“Halfway through the year, we are ahead of last year’s output for the same period which keeps us on track to exceed 2023’s delivery for new social homes which itself was the highest since the mid-1970s.”

However, Cork City Council’s housing plan outlines a target of 1,121 homes to be built in 2024, while the county council had set a target of 636, meaning just 1.5% has been built so far in the county and 1,730 homes will be required in the last six months of the year to meet their targets.

The figures also show that, in Cork city, 91 properties have been bought using the First Home Scheme, 11 using the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant ,and six tenants were situated under the Cost Rental Scheme.

In Cork county, 187 properties were purchased with the First Home Scheme, 22 using the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, and nine tenants were situated with the Cost Rental Scheme.

Sinn Féin TD for Cork North Central Thomas Gould said: “It is hard to see how this ground will be made up.”

He added: “While delivery always increases in the second half of the year, it is hard to see the housing targets being met before the end of the year.

“For the fifth year in a row, the Government looks set to miss its social and affordable housing targets.

“Minister O’Brien has refused to reform the approval, procurement, and delivery systems for social and affordable housing, resulting in projects taking too much time to get on site,” he said, adding: “Sinn Féin’s alternative housing plan, A Home Of Your Own, sets out the reforms that we would implement in Government to accelerate the delivery of much needed public housing.”