Public consultation opens on Child and Family Homelessness Action Plan
Government seeks submissions to shape cross-departmental response focused on prevention, faster exits and child wellbeing
20 January 2026 | đŸ“§Â editor@ipropertyradio.com
A public consultation has opened on the development of a new Child and Family Homelessness Action Plan, led jointly by the Department of the Taoiseach and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Submissions are invited from 19 January and will close on Sunday 8 February 2026.
The consultation forms part of the Government’s wider housing strategy, Delivering Homes, Building Communities, which brings together housing supply and homelessness policy under a single integrated framework. The plan is built around two core objectives: activating the supply of 300,000 additional homes and supporting people to secure and sustain a home of their own.
Homelessness is identified in the strategy as the most pressing social challenge facing the State. In response, the Government has committed to developing a dedicated Child and Family Homelessness Action Plan, recognising the specific and long-term impacts of homelessness on children, family stability and child poverty. More than €9 billion in capital funding is allocated for housing in 2026 as part of the broader programme.
According to the Department, the forthcoming action plan will place a strong emphasis on prevention measures, alongside actions to accelerate exits from homelessness and reduce the length of time children and families spend in emergency accommodation. It will also address the conditions experienced by children currently living in emergency settings, with a focus on additional supports in education, nutrition and mental health.
The proposed plan is intended to take a whole-family approach, including targeted supports for parents and expectant mothers experiencing homelessness. The development process involves a cross-departmental and agency-led structure, with input from relevant Government departments and State bodies.
As part of the consultation, individuals and organisations are invited to make submissions of up to 2,000 words, focusing on priority areas and practical measures to address child and family homelessness. Contributors may also outline their interest or experience in the area and reference relevant research or evidence.
Submissions can be made by email to childfamilyactionplan@housing.gov.ie or by post to the Homelessness Policy, Funding and Delivery Section, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Custom House, Dublin 1. The closing date for receipt of submissions is 8 February 2026.
All responses received will be considered in the preparation of the Child and Family Homelessness Action Plan, which is scheduled for publication in the second quarter of 2026. The Department has indicated that a summary of submissions, along with anonymised data, may be published as part of the process.
Further details through the Public Consultation Institute of Ireland: https://publicconsultation.ie/child-and-family-homelessness-action-plan-public-consultation/
