Fingal County Council completes sale of its 1000th affordable home

Fingal County Council has today announced the completion of its 1,000th affordable home sale, a landmark achievement that places the local authority at the forefront of affordable home delivery in the country. This milestone reflects Fingal’s sustained leadership in tackling housing supply challenges and delivering high-quality, affordable homes to individuals, couples and families across one of Ireland’s youngest and fastest-growing regions. The achievement aligns closely with the Government’s national housing which aims to increase access to home ownership and accelerate delivery across the country. Fingal has proven itself a key driver in translating national policy into real homes for real people.

Fingal’s first affordable housing scheme was launched in 2021 at Dun Emer, Lusk. 39 affordable units were delivered there and since then,15 more affordable housing schemes have been completed across Fingal including Balmoston (Donabate), Baile na Mona (Swords) and  Church Fields (Dublin 15). To date, 1,000 affordable homes have been sold, marking an important milestone in the Council’s ambitious housing delivery strategy. With over 3,000 additional affordable homes planned between now and 2030, the Affordable Purchase Scheme continues to play a strong and effective role in supporting home ownership

Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Tom O’Leary, praised the milestone: “Reaching our 1,000th affordable home sale is a truly significant moment for Fingal and the 1000 homeowners who have collected keys to their new homes. It demonstrates what can be achieved through determination and collaboration. Fingal County Council is proud to be leading the way nationally — delivering homes and giving people real opportunities to own a home. This success reflects the strength of the Fingal team’s vision, hard work, and our commitment to meeting the needs of our growing population across the towns in Fingal.  This could not be done without the support of the Government via the various grants and funding schemes for new homes and indeed the elected councillors of Fingal who support new affordable homes across Fingal for the needs of our growing population.”

Under the various schemes provided under the previous Housing for All strategy, Fingal has delivered a wide range of housing options. The Council also continues to ensure the public are aware of options available to them including the Local Authority Home Loan and Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, with Fingal having the second lowest vacancy rate in the country at just 1.1% according to the CSO. Under the Government's Housing Strategy, Fingal aims to continue to lead the charge on delivering high quality new-build homes for first time buyers along with affordable vacant properties with support for renovation.

AnnMarie Farrelly, Chief Executive of Fingal County Council, highlighted the scale of the achievement: “This achievement underscores Fingal County Council’s role at the forefront of affordable housing delivery in Ireland. Our pace of delivery is a testament to the innovation, dedication and collaboration across our teams and partners, and I want to commend the work of our housing team for their tireless efforts to deliver these vital homes. We are fully aligned with the Government’s housing initiatives, ensuring that we continue to deliver at pace and scale in response to increasing demand.”

Fingal’s success is driven by a strong and collaborative delivery model that brings together a wide range of partners across the housing sector. By working with large-scale national developers delivering high-volume schemes, alongside medium-sized regional builders ensuring a steady pipeline of homes, and local contractors contributing to community-focused and infill developments, Fingal has created a flexible and effective approach to housing delivery. This is further strengthened by close partnerships with Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs), helping to expand social and cost-rental housing options. Together, this diverse network continues to play a vital role in delivering high-quality homes and thriving communities across Fingal.

Director of Housing, Paul Carroll said: “Affordable Housing is a key part in our ambition of giving people a realistic chance of owning their own home. Fingal County Council is leading the way nationally in terms of the delivery of affordable homes. Supported by the Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage, we will continue to work with a number of partners including homebuilders and the Land Development Agency to ensure there is a pipeline of affordable homes across Fingal for years to come. Building these homes is only part of our mission. Our focus is also on creating long-term community infrastructure that supports people throughout their lives. That means planning neighbourhoods with transport, schools, parks, childcare, community centres and active travel links built in from the start. Our aim is to support strong, sustainable communities where families have the services and opportunities they need to thrive for generations”.

Purchaser of the 1000th affordable home, Stuart O’Neill said: “We’re delighted to have had the opportunity to buy a home here in Donabate. We’re 5 minutes away from the shops and about 10/15 minutes away from the beach here, which is perfect for our family. The facilities around here are excellent and my kids are certainly fans of the playgrounds! The affordable home scheme was vital to us and now being able to have a space to call our home has given us a new lease of life. A big thank you to Fingal County Council and Glenveagh who looked after us so well during our buying process”.

The Council continues to invest in infrastructure, amenities and sustainable development to ensure that new homes are supported by thriving, well-connected communities. Alongside this, as part of Fingal’s three-year Capital Programme, some €884m has been earmarked for housing, making it the largest single investment to meet the increasing demand for housing. The Council also recently approved a variation to the Fingal Development Plan 2023–2029 to introduce additional residential zoning capable of accommodating 5,000 more homes. This updated plan would help facilitate the construction of some 40,000 homes on over 850 hectares, supporting long-term growth, affordability and sustainable community development.

Looking ahead, the Council remains ambitious and people-centred. Around 3,500 new homes are currently under construction or progressing through planning on Council-owned land, with several phases already completed in the past year.

With sustained population growth, strong market activity, and major investment already underway, Fingal’s housing programme remains one of the most dynamic in the country. Every new development reinforces the Council’s commitment to delivering the homes its residents need and its determination to keep raising ambition for a growing and thriving county.