Galway’s two local authority chiefs have a crunch meeting with the Department of Housing in Dublin next week amid concerns the city will miss its 2026 social and affordable housing targets by more than a quarter.

Galway City Council Chief Executive Leonard Cleary said he would be joined by Galway County Council CE Liam Conneally at the meeting with senior officials in the Department of Housing as they push for help to deliver more homes in Galway.

News of the meeting came as the City Council conceded it was way behind on delivery of its housing targets under the Government’s Housing for All plan.

Director of Housing, Elizabeth Fanning told this week’s Council meeting that there was a 27% shortfall in the 2026 housing targets, which was described as worrying by several elected representatives.

Mr Cleary said both Chief Executives would be looking for help from the Department relating to Galway-specific blockages that were preventing the development of housing.

There was a need to tackle blockages and to “unlock land banks” for development, he said.

Among the problems creating blockages were transport and wastewater infrastructure, Mr Cleary explained, including at lands in Murrough.

These blockages needed to be cleared, so that “developers can build more housing”.

When pushed by Councillor Clodagh Higgins (FG) to outline exactly what the two men would be looking for at that meeting, Mr Cleary said there was “no simple solution” to the housing situation and there were environmental challenges, due to the city’s proximity to Special Areas of Conservation.

As well as transport and wastewater infrastructural issues, Mr Cleary indicated he would discuss staffing or workforce issues with officials in Dublin.

The Chief Executive also indicated that Galway City Council would be entering the private market to buy up homes for social housing.

Pictured: City Council Chief Executive Leonard Cleary will be joined by Galway County Council CE Liam Conneally at a meeting with senior officials in the Department of Housing next week.