State alone can’t solve housing issue – Minister

Housing supply in counties such as Monaghan and Cavan will only catch up with demand through sustained investment and continued collaboration between local authorities, approved housing bodies and the private sector, according to Minister of State for Local Government and Planning, John Cummins.

Speaking exclusively to The Anglo-Celt during a visit to Monaghan on Monday, the Waterford Fine Gael TD was asked when housing delivery would catch up with demand, with social housing waiting lists in both Monaghan and Cavan continuing to exceed 1,000 applicants.

Mr Cummins was in the county to officially open 51 new social homes at Slí Lorcáin, Latlorcan, Monaghan Town, before visiting the active construction site at Connabury, Castleblayney, where a further 26 social homes are under construction, expected to be completed next year.

While acknowledging the scale of the challenge, the Minister praised Monaghan County Council's efforts in delivering new homes and pointed to significant Capital investment in both housing and enabling infrastructure.

“Look, I think the key thing is that you have a county council here in Monaghan that are doing really good work in terms of housing,” he said, citing both the Latlorcan and Connabury as examples of progress on the ground.

Mr Cummins said Monaghan council had received funding for key infrastructure projects to support future housing development and noted that €800M had been allocated nationally for similar works.

“The State can't do everything,” said the Waterford Fine Gael TD, stressing that increasing housing supply requires a combined effort from councils, approved housing bodies and private developers.

Despite continued pressure on housing supply, Mr Cummins said he was encouraged by increases in planning permissions, housing commencement notices and completions.

“I’m confident that the trajectory we're on, showing planning permissions up, commencements up and completions up, that it will yield dividends,” he said.

However, he warned against any slowdown in investment.

“We can't take our foot off the pedal. We need to continue to invest in housing because it's so important.”

Mr Cummins visited the county at the invitation of Cavan-Monaghan TD David Maxwell. During the visit, Sinn Féin representatives Cathy Bennett in Monaghan Town and Cllr Paul Gibbons in Castleblayney raised concerns about social housing income thresholds, arguing that some people were being “caught in the middle,” earning too much to qualify for supports but too little to secure a mortgage in their own right.

The Minister told both representatives that he was “working on it”.

Meanwhile, Monaghan council's Director of Housing, Olga McConnon, welcomed the latest housing developments but said her one request to Government would be increased funding for local authorities.

“If I had one ask, it would be to increase the general grant that they provide to local authorities, commonly known as the LPT grant,” she told the Celt.

Ms McConnon said local authorities needed “a significant increase” in the funding received from central government and the increase is required “as soon as 2027”.

Cathaoirleach Aidan Campbell and Monaghan council Chief Executive Robert Burns were among the dignitaries who welcomed the Minister during his visit.