Government Records 4,699 Starter Home Supports for First Half of 2026
Wednesday 11 November 2026
Official data shows 4,699 starter home supports delivered in the first six months of 2026, though the presentation of the figures drew political criticism.
The government recorded 4,699 starter home supports in the first six months of 2026, marking a 57% increase year-on-year.
Housing Minister James Browne announced the figures, noting that delivery rose from 2,980 supports provided during the same period in 2025. The data encompasses several delivery streams across affordable purchase and rental programmes.
Under the Starter Home Purchase Scheme, 565 homes were delivered in the first half of 2026, representing a 65% increase on the 343 homes recorded during the first six months of 2025. Since the scheme launched in 2022, more than 3,000 purchase homes have been completed through local authorities, Approved Housing Bodies, and the Land Development Agency.
Cost rental delivery reached 1,399 units by the end of June 2026, up 111% from 664 units in the first half of 2025. In addition, 996 drawdowns were completed under the First Home Scheme, compared to 639 drawdowns over the same timeframe in 2025.
Opposition politicians challenged the government's packaging of the data, describing the affordable delivery levels as inadequate and arguing that the combined categorisation represents an attempt to place positive framing on output.