Fri, Apr 17, 2026
Read in 2 minutes
Green Party Chair, and candidate for the Dublin Central by-election, Cllr Janet Horner, has welcomed the opening of applications for cost rental properties at O’Devaney Gardens in Dublin 7.
Cost Rental was rolled out by The Green Party in the last term of Government to deliver quality rental accommodation at an affordable price. Unlike private rentals, rent is calculated solely on the cost of building and maintaining the property. A report published today by the ESRI shows that the State’s cost rental housing scheme is offering tenants rents nearly 30% below private market levels
Speaking this afternoon, Cllr Horner said:
“‘I’m delighted to see applications for O’Devaney Gardens open, but I know that demand will outstrip the number of available units. Cost Rental is important for this area as it offers an alternative to the extortionate rents we’ve seen in the past few years. It isn’t about how much profit it can generate for developers or hedge funds.
If we build enough of these, it should also bring down rent costs in the private rental sector too.”
Applications for cost rental properties at O’Devaney Gardens opened today and close on Monday. Applicants must fulfil criteria on minimum and maximum income levels. Cllr Horner called for more cost rental to be added to the housing mix:
“In a dysfunctional housing market, the State stepping in and delivering rental properties, particularly for those who might not be eligible for other housing supports, is a really good thing - as we need a lot more of it.”