New Housing Plan will deliver for Waterford

• Over 300,000 homes to be delivered during lifetime of the plan

• Significant and targeted investment in infrastructure, regulatory reform, zoning of land and tax measures to accelerate private sector delivery

• Record state investment to deliver 90,000 starter home supports, 72,000 social homes and targetedmeasures to address homelessness

• Largest ever housing budget -  In 2026 alone over €9 billion capital funding through the Exchequer, the Land Development Agency and the Housing Finance Agency

Minister of State for Planning and Local GovernmentJohn Cummins TD today launched the Government’s new housing plan ‘Delivering Homes, Building Communities’ describing it as “a major step forward in accelerating housing delivery and tackling vacancy and dereliction across Waterford.”

The new plan builds on the significant progress made under Housing for All, which has already seen 137,000 new homes delivered nationwide since 2021, including significant levels of housing completions in the South East region.

The plan will ensure that the State will do more but it will also empower others, particularly local authorities, AHB’s, the LDA and the private sector to play a critical part in delivery. 

Key local priorities include:

• Accelerating delivery of new homes in strategic areas in Waterford

• Unlocking serviced land for new homes through the new €1 billion Housing Infrastructure Investment Fund.

• Expanding vacancy and dereliction programmes, including an enhanced Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant to support over the shop living and the introduction of a new Derelict Property Tax, to bring unused properties back into use in towns and villages across the county.

• Supporting local SMEs and builders in Waterford to adopt Modern Methods of Construction, increasing speed and quality in new home delivery.

• Remove items from the planning system through exemptions which will simplify the system and free up stretched resources.

• Focused resources to prevent and exit families out of emergency accommodation

Speaking today, Minister Cummins said: “Today we are outlining the Government’s plan to deliver 300,000 homes in the period to the end of 2030. Significant progress has been made in recent years but of course we need to do more and we are treating the housing crisis as an emergency.

“This plan builds on the series of measures that have been announced in the last 9 months to accelerate supply, make apartment delivery viable, increase protection for renters, tackle vacancy and dereliction and ring-fence targeted funding to prevent and exit people who have spent a long time in emergency accommodation.

“This plan should not be seen in isolation. It is being enabled by the largest ever capital investment in the history of the State, €275 billion over ten years via the National Development Plan, to significantly upgrade this country’s infrastructure and shape the foundations on which home building is built. 

“The state is investing unprecedented levels of funding to deliver more homes and to create the conditions for greater delivery across Waterford and nationwide. The Government will lead with record investment and strong direction, but success also depends on local authorities, the Land Development Agency, Approved Housing Bodies and the private sector playing their part. We willpublish data to illustrate how everybody contributes to the national effort.

“Effective planning is key to getting homes built at speed but too many times we have seen worthwhile and necessary projects tied up in delay and obstruction. Under this plan, we will fully implement the reforms within the Planning and Development Act 2024 which seek to streamline the planning process, including changes to Judicial Reviews and the introduction of statutory decision-making timelines.

“Where necessary, we will introduce further legislation to streamline the judicial review process, including safeguards against spurious objections and appeals. We will also fully utilise planning exemptions, where appropriate, to cut red tape and free up planning resources.

“Affordable home ownership is also a priority for this Government. Too many people who work hard still find it difficult to get their feet on the first rung of the property ladder. Through this plan, we will support the purchase or renovation of 90,000 properties under the Starter Homes programme, allowing thousands of people to realise their dream of home ownership and ensure that those who wish to rent can do so at affordable prices.

“This plan also includes my plans to allow modular-style homes in back gardens without the need for planning permission. It will have strict limitations and I am happy to say this proposal is at an advanced stage. I have always said this will only be appropriate in certain settings and it is about providing housing options for people.

“As Minister of State with responsibility for Local Government and Planning, it is important to acknowledge the good work being done by local authorities. But it is true to say, having travelled to 20 local authorities, that some are not pulling their weight in driving supply of housing and tackling vacancy and dereliction. I will incentivise local authorities who exceed their housing delivery targets.

In Waterford alone, hundreds of properties have already benefitted from the hugely successful Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, and this new plan expands that scheme further. We are also introducing a new Derelict Property Tax, collected by revenue to ensure properties don’t lie idle at a time of such need..

“This plan is about removing obstacles, unlocking serviced land and supporting local builders, councils and communities to deliver homes at scale.