There are more than 2,000 social homes in the pipeline to be built in Cork, with a target of 1,200 this year, the Department of Housing has confirmed.

Fine Gael TD John Paul O’Shea asked the department for an update on the delivery of social housing in Cork city and county, including the expected number of units to be completed in 2025.

Minister of state Christopher O’Sullivan explained that Cork City Council has a target to deliver 592 new-build social homes in 2025, and said: “The social-housing construction status report, CSR, shows that there were 1,084 homes on site at various stages of design and procurement in Cork city at the end of Q1 of 2025.

“Cork county has a target of 683 new-build social homes this year. The CSR shows that there are 1,203 homes on site at various stages of design and procurement in Cork county.

“The CSR also shows that 308 new social homes were added to the pipeline across both local authorities in Q1.”

Welcomed

Mr O’Shea welcomed the target figures, saying: “This will bring in the bones of 1,200 new social houses in to the system in Cork city and county for 2025.

“I very much welcome that almost 2,100 units are in the pipeline between Cork city and county.”

Mr O’Sullivan added: “If all local authorities were able to match the rate of delivery of Cork county, then the rate of delivery of social housing and affordable housing, right across the board, would be much stronger.

“I commend the work of the councillors and the local authority there.”

He added that in Cork north west, Mr O’Shea’s constituency, there are 16 units in An Clós in Macroom that are substantially complete.

Percival St and Market Pl, both in Kanturk, have six units and the builders are on site, and they are also on site for two units at Mill Rd in Kanturk.

Progressing

Work is also progressing on 23 units at Clós an tSuláin, Macroom, as well as 48 units on the Kilmallock Rd in Charleville.

He added: “We cannot rest on our laurels.

“There is a lot more work to be done. There are still plenty of people in Cork county who need social homes.”