Housing crisis in Waterford ‘getting worse and worse’ as council behind on last year

The housing crisis in Waterford is “just getting worse and worse”, a council meeting has heard.

Independent councillor Joe Kelly made the remarks at the July plenary meeting of Waterford City and County Council.

Cllr Kelly said: “I was just looking at the housing allocations and the numbers for last year and this year.

“Last year, there were 501 [houses] that were issued out to people but in 2026 so far, it’s 214.

“So if you put that out for a full year, say 428. That’s a shortfall of 73 on last year’s [figure].”

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He went on to ask whether the council is going to reach the 2025 figure by the end of the year.

“I’m only the asking question - are we likely to make up that shortfall in the second half of the year or even exceed the 2025 figure?

“The situation as we all know is just getting worse and worse so we want to at least keep level but on the figures it looks like we mightn’t.

“Perhaps our management has more in the tank in terms of what’s coming on in the second half of the year.”

In response to Cllr Kelly, Director of Services Seamus De Faoite said that the allocations come down to a number of factors.

Mr De Faoite said: “Allocations come down to the number of units that we’re going to get I suppose really and [...] vacancies.

“It’s down to a number of schemes and timings really. There is a large scheme there in Dungarvan coming up soon. There’s a number of schemes in the city as well.

“There are vacancies so is it going to be the same as last year? I’m not sure but I will come back here to the members around that.

“What I can say though is that in relation to our own Housing For All programme over the past number of years, it looks at the moment that the target that was set will be achieved.”