The Department of Housing's expenditure on housing nearly doubled from 2021 to 2024, reaching €5.3 billion in 2024, with capital expenditure accounting for 68%, according to the latest Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) report.
Under the 'Housing for All' plan, €20 billion was committed in funding from 2021 to 2025.
The C&AG report noted that the department reported a shortfall in meeting some housing targets in 2024, with a 10% shortfall in new-build and acquisition units to deliver through the local authority capital programme with the outturn for 2024 at 5,165 units.
However, it exceeded its target for cost rental and affordable purchase homes by 11% with 7,125 new cost rental and affordable purchase homes delivered.
€151 million was provided by ten local authorities from local property tax receipts.
The delivery streams of social housing and affordable housing account for approximately €4.3 billion (79%) of the expenditure.
Social housing expenditure makes up the majority of this at €3.5 billion. There were 11 affordable and social housing funding schemes in operation at the end of 2024.
Social and Affordable housing
2024 Social housing expenditure reached €3.5 billion.
In 2024, affordable housing was the second biggest delivery stream in terms of spending and accounted for 14% of total expenditure on the department’s housing programme.
The expenditure was incurred under six housing schemes: Cost Rental Tenant-in-Situ (CRTIS); Affordable Housing Fund; Cost Rental Equity Loan (CREL); Croí Cónaithe (Towns); Secure Tenancy Affordable Rental (STAR); and First Home Scheme.
In 2024, the department provided just under €4.8 billion to local authorities under its housing programme.
New IT project
The department commenced a project in 2023 to develop an IT system to improve and standardise work processes, improve data management and reporting, and ensure better information flows between the department, local authorities and other key stakeholders involved in housing delivery.
The target date for completion is 2028 and the estimated expected total cost of the system €12.8 million.
