Concerns that Kildare families are ‘still being failed’ by government over extra housing allocations

A local councillor has voiced his concerns that families living in County Kildare are "still being failed" by the government when it comes to extra housing allocations.

Social Democrats Cllr Chris Pender today (August 21) welcomed confirmation that Kildare County Council (KCC) will have access to additional funding under the Second-Hand Acquisition Programme in 2025.

However, he also warned that that "the government’s last-minute and piecemeal approach is continuing to fail families in Kildare who are already at risk of homelessness".

The Newbridge rep elaborated: "Earlier this year, KCC received €15 million to operate the Second-Hand Acquisition Programme for 2025.

"This programme allows the Council to purchase homes through Tenant-in-Situ arrangements where KCC steps in to buy a property when a landlord sells up, acquisitions to support exits from homelessness, purchases for people with disabilities, Buy and Renew properties which tackle vacancy and dereliction, and Capital Assistance Scheme acquisitions which are often delivered in partnership with Approved Housing Bodies."

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He continued: "However, due to commitments carried over from 2024, KCC had already reached a spending commitment of €15.3 million before the year had properly begun.

"This meant that the council had little-to-no scope to commit to additional acquisitions for the remainder of 2025, despite high demand and urgent need across the county."

Cllr Pender also said that following lobbying from councillors, housing groups, and local authorities nationwide, the Department of Housing has now confirmed that Minister Browne has secured an additional €50 million nationally for the scheme.

As part of this procurement, priority will be given to local authorities and housing bodies supporting Housing First tenancies, homeless prevention measures, and exits from homelessness.

MIXED REACTION

Cllr Pender said that he welcomed the additional funding, but also voiced his belief that the government’s approach leaves families in Kildare "exposed".

Explaining his view, Cllr Pender said: "This extra funding is certainly welcome, but the reality is that Kildare families have already lost out because of the government’s failure to provide enough money at the beginning of the year.

"KCC has been ready and willing to acquire homes, but with budgets tied up we had to effectively press pause; families in Newbridge, Kildare town and right across the county have been left in limbo, wondering if they will be able to stay in their homes or if they will end up in emergency accommodation.

"This is not how you plan housing this is crisis management."

He also said that the Department has indicated that a longer-term roadmap for acquisitions up to 2030 will be published, linked to the new National Development Plan.

However, he also warned that without addressing the key issues raised repeatedly by councils, the same problems will persist.

Cllr Pender pointed to "unrealistic timelines" for completing Tenant-in-Situ purchases, an alleged lack of government funding, and "the lack of funding certainty year after year, with councils waiting on late announcements instead of having guaranteed allocations at the start of the year".

He further said that Kildare is one of the fastest-growing counties in Ireland, and a result, the demand for housing in the county "is enormous" and "we simply cannot afford to operate in this kind of stop-start way".

"Councils need certainty, not surprises," Cllr Pender said. "We need proper multi-annual funding so that we can plan, deliver and support families at risk of homelessness before they reach a crisis point."

He also noted that KCC staff "are working tirelessly" to deliver housing in the county despite the barriers that they face.

Cllr. Pender concluded by pledging to continue pushing for "greater certainty for KCC, adequate resourcing to deliver homes, and stronger protections for tenants across the county".

He added: "We cannot keep lurching from one emergency announcement to another; Kildare families need security and stability."

Concluding his points, Cllr Pender delivered the following call: "The government must stop relying on short-term fixes and start giving councils the certainty they need to deliver real, lasting housing solutions."

Social Democrats Cllr Chris Pender. File photograph

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