Further criticism over lack of housing funding for Kildare

Further criticism has been levelled at the Minister of Housing, James Browne TD, over the lack of housing funding for County Kildare.

Yesterday, Social Democrats councillor Chris Pender criticised the government’s decision to exclude Kildare from the latest €50 million in targeted housing acquisitions funding, which was announced by Minister Browne.

Although he welcomed efforts to support families trapped in emergency accommodation, Cllr Pender also claimed that the announcement highlights "how counties like Kildare continue to be left behind".

And now, Sinn Féin TD for Kildare South, Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh, has expressed similar sentiments.

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Deputy Ní Raghallaigh claimed: "This decision means homelessness will continue to rise in Kildare."

"The Minister announced €50 million in additional funding, and yet not one cent is being directed to Kildare, despite it being one of the fastest growing counties in the State and with the council having a proven track record in delivering social housing."

She continued: "The Second-Hand Acquisition Programme is a key tool to prevent homelessness, to sustain tenancies, and to support people with disabilities and older people.

"It is also central to tackling vacancy, but the government has now restricted the additional fund to only one category – vacant acquisitions for larger families and single people. That is not good enough."

"Kildare received €15 million for this programme in 2025, but every cent of it is already tied up in commitments from last year; the council has confirmed that no new acquisitions will be made this year."

She further claimed: "As a result, the number of families in emergency accommodation for more than 12 months has already doubled in just three months – from 6 at the end of May to 12 by the end of August."

In addition, the Kildare South politician voiced her belief that this was "part of a wider pattern across the State".

She elaborated: pointed to the increase in national homelessness since 2020: "Nearly 16,000 people are in emergency accommodation.

"In Kildare, rents are over €2,000 and ordinary working families are being pushed to the brink. Their landlords are leaving the market, they can’t afford new rentals, and they are left with nowhere to go."

The Deputy also accused both Fianna Fáil (FF) and Fine Gael (FG) of normalising homelessness: "They refuse to treat it as the national emergency that it is. The Minister must sanction adequate funding for all categories of Second-Hand Acquisition, not just a narrow few, and he must accelerate the delivery of social and affordable homes."

Representatives of both FF and FG have been contacted for comment on this statement.

She also said: "Councils also need proper funding for upgrades under Tenant-in-Situ, instead of being forced to cover costs from their own budgets, otherwise, the scheme cannot function properly."

Deputy Ní Raghallaigh concluded: "This is a human rights issue; families cannot wait. The solutions exist, but the political will is absent; it’s time for the Minister to get on with the job."

Sinn Féin TD for Kildare South, Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh. File photograph

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DEPARTMENT RESPONSE

The Department of Housing responded to the Leader's request for comment in relation to Cllr Pender's criticism, which was reported on yesterday (September 11 last).

A spokesperson for the Department said: "Supporting individuals and families experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, homelessness is a priority for Government. Critical to addressing homelessness is increasing the supply of housing.

"An additional €50 million has recently been secured to expand the programme as part of the National Development Plan discussions."

They continued: "This funding is being ring fenced and allocated to the eight city and city and county councils, which have the highest number of households that have been emergency accommodation for longer than 24 months in the Dublin region and 12 months or more in the remaining regional authorities — the focus is supporting larger families with children and Housing First clients.

"Initially €325 million has been allocated to local authorities for social housing 2nd hand acquisitions in 2025 for the specific categories of need under the programme, namely: tenancy sustainment – tenant in situ; exits from homeless services; Housing First tenancies; people with a disability and older persons requiring urgent housing responses; and buy and renew acquisitions tackling vacancy."

"Notwithstanding the provision of extra funding to identified LA’s, there is currently sufficient scope within the overall original €325 million to support all acquisitions that can be contractually completed and drawn down by local authorities (including Kildare) before the end of the year."

"Additionally, with regard to local authorities that have not received an allocation from the €50m, all local authorities have authorisation to enter into commitments this year that are more likely to complete and fall due in 2026 and may do so to a value of up to 30% of their original 2025 allocation."

The spokesperson concluded: "This flexibility should allow them to continue progressing acquisitions in the closing months of 2025, with certainty on funding availability in 2026 should such purchases not complete in 2025."

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