COPE Galway welcomes the Government’s “Delivering Homes, Building Communities” Action Plan (2025–2030). Delivering on the plan’s wide-ranging commitments, including 72,000 social homes over the next six years is the minimum required to address the widespread vulnerability among the many people experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness.
We especially welcome the Government’s focus on increasing supply of one-bedroom homes for single adults and four-bedroom homes for large families, who account for a significant proportion of the people we work with every day.
We are also very encouraged by the plan to urgently address child and family homelessness, including a commitment to legislate for the Best Interests of the Child. This could make a lasting difference to the many families we work with every day.
On the issue of domestic abuse, we strongly support the proposed requirement that local authority housing allocation schemes consider the particular circumstances of victims of domestic violence, including where they have waited on the social housing list of another local authority. All too often in our experience such issues have been barriers to women and children leaving abusive relationships.
For older people, we commend the plan’s overarching aim to facilitate ageing in place in their own homes and communities, with dignity and independence, through increased housing options tailored for this growing demographic within our community.
However, the real test will be in deliverability. Without sustained, practical action on the ground too many people will continue to face instability and hardship.
COPE Galway urges Government to move swiftly from promise to delivery, to make sure that the most vulnerable in our community are not left behind.
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For further information, contact: Colette Coughlan, Marketing and Communications Lead, COPE Galway – 085 858 9781 / ccoughlan@copegalway.ie