Galway City Council has committed to delivering more than 2,400 social and affordable homes in the next five years in line with a target set by the Government under its national Housing For All policy.
Details of the local authority’s strategy to provide 2,440 new homes by the end of 2026 were welcomed by local Fine Gael TD, Minister Hildegarde Naughton.
More than 1,000 new affordable houses will be provided in the city under the plan. These will be made available for purchase and cost rental, enabling hard-pressed individuals and families to find a suitable home.
“This is a very significant and ambitious commitment which will help people who have found themselves priced out of the property market,” said Minister Naughton.
“But it will also have a broader impact on local housing supply and prices. It is a move in the right direction in terms of providing solutions for people most affected by the housing crisis.”
The Galway West TD was speaking at the Claonadh social housing development in Newcastle where 92 houses, apartments and duplex-style dwellings are being completed.
The local authority has committed to increasing its social housing stock, as well as tackling issues such as vacancy and affordability during the lifetime of the plan. Approximately 265 social homes are expected to be delivered by the end of this year alone.
“The Government is looking to local authorities to provide solutions to this crisis under its Housing For All policy, and Galway City Council has answered that call,” said Minister Naughton.
“The action plan is ambitious and can have an impact not only on individuals and families, but also on the broader market. It’s part of a wider strategy to address issues of supply and pricing.
“The challenge now is to deliver on this commitment. We need to see immediate action, and I am confident that the local authority will act with the urgency required to make these aspirations a reality,” added the Fine Gael TD.
