Government’s “starter home” spin cannot hide just 565 new affordable purchase homes in six months
Government’s “starter home” spin cannot hide just 565 new affordable purchase homes in six months - The Labour Party
- Government missed last year’s affordable purchase target by 55%, delivering just 935 homes.
- Labour would invest €6 billion from the Apple tax windfall in a State Construction Company.
Labour housing spokesperson Conor Sheehan TD has today called on Housing Minister James Browne to invest directly in building affordable homes. He was responding to Department of Housing figures showing that just 565 new-build affordable purchase homes came on stream nationwide in the first half of 2026.
Deputy Sheehan said:
“Six months. Just 565 new affordable purchase homes across the country. Last year, the Government delivered just 935 and missed its own target by 55%. For families and workers trying to save a deposit while paying high rents, that means another year with too few homes they can afford to buy.
“Government is now talking about ‘starter home supports’. It bundles vacant property refurbishment grants and the First Home shared equity scheme into a headline figure for affordable housing. Ministers can repackage the figures all they like. Just 565 new affordable purchase homes came on stream in six months.
“Even on Government’s own broader measure, it’s falling short. Minister Browne’s housing plan targets an average of 15,000 starter home supports a year until 2030. Government delivered just 4,700 in the first half of this year. At that pace, it will fall well short of a target that already understates how many affordable homes people need.
“Labour would put €6 billion from the Apple tax windfall into the Land Development Agency and turn it into a State Construction Company that can build directly on public land. We would provide a further €483 million in financing to support 2,000 more cost rental homes and 2,000 more affordable purchase homes a year.
“Minister Browne should put the Apple windfall to work and publish a county-by-county timetable for building affordable homes. We need a renewed sense of urgency from Government on this.”