Minister Dillon welcomes funding of €3.5m allocation for Mayo County Council
Minister of State Alan Dillon TD has welcomed funding of €3.5m allocation for Mayo County Council under the Social Housing Acquisitions Programme.
This represents a €1,020,000 increase in Mayo’s acquisitions funding compared with 2025, strengthening the county’s ability to secure homes for households in urgent need.
A national allocation of €373 million has been confirmed by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage for the 2026 Second Hand Social Housing Acquisitions Programme.
The €373 million allocation exceeds by more than €80 million the €290 million drawn down by local authorities in 2025.
The 2026 programme includes: €150 million ring fenced to help households exit long term homeless accommodation; €50 million for Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) to provide homes for older persons, people with disabilities, and care leavers; €157 million available to local authorities for discretionary use, including tenancy sustainment and tenant in situ purchases; a €16 million contingency fund to support local authorities with capacity to progress additional acquisitions this year.
Local authorities will again be permitted to commit up to 30 per-cent of their base allocation toward acquisitions expected to complete in 2027, continuing the multi annual approach introduced last year.
Eligibility criteria introduced in 2025 for tenant in situ acquisitions will remain in place, with an additional condition that such acquisitions will not proceed where a household has refused a reasonable offer of local authority or AHB accommodation following receipt of a notice of termination.
Minister Dillon said: “Today’s announcement is a very welcome boost for Mayo. The €3.5 million allocation for 2026, a €1.02 million increase on last year, ensures Mayo County Council has the resources it needs to protect households facing the most acute housing pressures.
“This programme is designed to respond to urgent need, particularly for families at risk of homelessness, and today’s funding gives Mayo the flexibility to act quickly where a home can be secured for a vulnerable household.”
Minister Dillon added: “While acquisitions are an important safety net, our long term focus remains firmly on building new social homes across Mayo. We are seeing momentum in delivery, and I will continue working with Mayo County Council to ensure that pipeline strengthens further. As we increase supply, reliance on acquisitions will naturally reduce, but for now they remain a vital tool to protect those most at risk.”