Galway families face homelessness as affordable rentals dry up

Galway West Sinn Féin TD Mairéad Farrell warned that families with children were among those desperately seeking help as affordable accommodation became increasingly difficult to find.

“Every day, people are coming to me, at the end of their tether and facing the very real prospect of homelessness. Many of these people have families and children to care for,” she said.

“The reality is that the HAP scheme is no longer cutting it for people, and it hasn’t been for a while now.”

According to the latest Locked Out of the Market report from the Simon Communities of Ireland, the average monthly rent for a three-bedroom home is €2,500 in Galway city centre and €2,650 in the suburbs.

An average of just 29 properties were advertised for rent in the city centre each day during the September survey, down 28 on the previous report. In the suburbs, the daily average was 56, an increase of just two.

Deputy Farrell accused the Government of failing to address the growing pressure on renters, saying Budget 2027 had offered little relief to those struggling to keep a roof over their heads.

Nationally, just 12 properties were within HAP limits across 16 areas surveyed, down from 20 in June. None was available to families with children at standard HAP rates.

Three studio apartments in Galway city centre were within HAP limits but were excluded from the report’s main findings.

The findings come amid renewed calls from housing organisations for tighter regulation of short-term lettings to help protect the supply of long-term rental accommodation.

Threshold, the Simon Communities of Ireland and three other organisations this week urged the Government to strengthen the Short-Term Lettings and Tourism Bill 2026 ahead of a 1 December deadline.

They called for clearer planning rules, registration requirements and stronger enforcement to ensure the legislation is effective.

Threshold National Advocacy Manager Ann-Marie O’Reilly said clear rules were essential for people struggling to find somewhere affordable to live.

“Behind the need for clear rules and proper enforcement are individuals and families who simply want somewhere secure and affordable to live,” she said.

“Threshold hears from renters every day who are worried about finding a home, losing their tenancy or being forced to leave the communities they know. It is important that this legislation delivers meaningful change for those people.”

Simon Communities of Ireland Executive Director Ber Grogan said bringing properties back into the rental market was part of the solution to the homelessness crisis.

“Regulation is already long overdue,” she said.

“Regulating short-term lets effectively and in a timely manner must be a priority for Government.”