Kildare families have allegedly been ‘ignored again’ in latest housing funding announcement

A local representative has alleged that families in County Kildare have been "ignored again" in the government's latest housing funding announcement.

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

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

He added: "This €50 million is being directed at just eight councils, with not a cent coming to Kildare, yet we know families here in Newbridge, Naas, Kildare town and across the county are spending months and years in hotels and B&Bs.

"Children growing up in Kildare emergency accommodation deserve the same priority as those in Dublin, but this announcement ignores them."

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Cllr Pender also noted that the new funding allocations, as reported by KFM, show that all of the money will be channelled to major cities and Dublin local authorities.

"Homelessness is not just a Dublin issue; families in commuter counties like ours are under enormous pressure from soaring rents, a lack of affordable homes, and growing reliance on emergency accommodation," he said. "By directing this entire fund away from counties like Kildare, the government is creating a two-tier response to homelessness."

He also warned about what he views as an "over-reliance" on acquisitions as a policy tool: "Buying up second-hand homes may provide short-term relief, but it does not solve the core problem: the lack of new social and affordable housing being built here in Kildare.

"Worse still, it puts councils in direct competition with working families who are already priced out of the market."

He concluded: "If the government is serious about ending child homelessness, it cannot continue to ignore counties like Kildare; families here need fair funding, faster delivery of Tenant-in-Situ purchases, and a long-term plan to build the homes our communities urgently need."

The Department of Housing has been contacted for comment in relation to Cllr Pender's statements.

Cllr Pender made headlines earlier this month when he expressed solidarity with striking school secretaries and caretakers.

Social Democrats Cllr Chris Pender. Photograph supplied by Cllr Pender.

UPDATE — Friday, September 12, 2025 — 10.07am: 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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