Just three new-build homes delivered by Cork City Council in six months

Cork city’s social housing crisis is deepening, with just three new-build homes delivered by Cork City Council in the first six months of this year, added to a report which showed that there are no housing assistance payment (HAP) rental properties available in the city.

Along with the three new-builds in Q2, a further three homes were bought by the council for social housing after being built by private developers. These six new homes equate to less than 1% of the council’s 601 target for 2025.

Cork county performed somewhat better, delivering 50 homes in the first half of this year, but they are still only at 7% of their 697 target for 2026.

It is not uncommon for the vast bulk of social housing delivery by local authorities and approved housing bodies to take place in the second half of the year, built nationally, the picture is much better.

Across Ireland, 2,731 new-build social homes were completed in the first six months of this year. This represents a 51% increase from 1,804 in the same period in 2025.

Missed targets 

It comes as the delivery of new-build social housing in Cork fell by 14% last year compared to the year before, and both of Cork’s local authorities missed their targets, which were slightly lower than this year’s.

Cork City delivered 472 homes, compared to its 592 target, and Cork County delivered 400, well short of its 683 target.

Another report released this week shows that there are also worrying trends in the rental market, with no properties available in Cork city and suburbs for those looking to avail of the Government’s HAP scheme, which many utilise to afford a private rental home while on the social housing waiting list.

Under HAP, limits are placed on the amount of rent that can be paid to a private landlord, including €550 for a single adult in Cork city, though local authorities are permitted a discretionary spend of 35% above the HAP limit.

The report found there were no properties available to rent anywhere in the country within standard HAP limits on the three days in September which were analysed, and only 12 within discretionary limits — seven in Dublin, two in Kildare, and three in Dundalk.

The report, released quarterly by the Simon Community, found that there were 75 properties to rent in Cork city centre and 75 in the suburbs during the period, but no HAP properties were listed.

It comes as Cork City Council is reportedly considering increasing social housing rents in its annual budget, due to be agreed later this month.