Delivery of Starter Home Supports accelerated in 2026, with Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage James Browne TD confirming that 4,699 supports were provided in the first six months of the year — a 57% increase on the 2,980 recorded in the same period of 2025. In the second quarter alone, 2,683 supports were delivered, up more than 46% year on year, with all programmes reporting higher output and particularly strong progress in Cost Rental.

The Starter Home Supports cover the Starter Home Purchase Scheme, Cost Rental homes, the First Home Scheme, and the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant. The Department reported sustained momentum across the board following gains made in 2025.

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne TD, said: "I recognise that affordability is a significant challenge right across the board for people who want to own their own home. I have been determined to build out our affordable supports options, and I am at this stage pleased to see a strong performance of these programmes in the first half of the year.

"The schemes we have are making owning a home far more accessible but I want to see far more of it.

"We have to drive on and expand access to affordable housing options in 2026.

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"These are supports that back people in purchasing a home for the first time, assisting people to access decent and affordable rental homes, and providing the option to restore vacant properties so they can be lived in once again.

"I expect this strong performance to continue across all Starter Home schemes. As the completion of homes continues to move in the right direction and we see strong momentum across planning permissions, commencements and completions, the affordable supports have to follow. I am determined – and will be relentless in ensuring – that more people can secure a home and the keys to a safe and secure front door."

Starter Home Purchase Scheme: 565 homes were delivered in the first half of 2026, a 65% uplift on the 343 in the same period of 2025. In Q2, 279 new homes were delivered, up 30% on Q2 2025. Since its 2022 launch, more than 3,000 Starter Homes for Purchase have been delivered through local authorities, Approved Housing Bodies and the Land Development Agency.

Cost Rental: 1,399 new Cost Rental homes were delivered to end-June 2026, a 111% increase on the 664 achieved in the same period last year. In Q2, 927 homes were delivered, a 68% year-on-year rise. More than 7,600 Cost Rental homes have now been delivered nationally by Approved Housing Bodies, local authorities, the Land Development Agency and via the Cost Rental Tenant-in-Situ Scheme.

First Home Scheme: 996 supports were drawn down in the first half of 2026, up 56% on the 639 in H1 2025, with Q2 delivery 50% higher than in the same quarter of 2025. The scheme continues to help eligible purchasers close the gap between their mortgage, deposit and the price of a new home.

Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant: 1,739 grants were paid in the first half of 2026, a 30% rise on the 1,334 in the same period last year. Between April and June, 923 grants were paid, up 31% year on year, highlighting the scheme's success in returning vacant and derelict properties to use and supporting town, village and rural regeneration.

The strong second-quarter performance across all supports builds on record delivery in 2025 and lays a firm platform for continued progress throughout 2026. Further details on Starter Home support delivery statistics are available on the Department's website: Overall Social and Starter Home Provision - gov.ie.