More than 82 people applied to Galway City Council for 14 affordable homes in Rahoon within minutes of the scheme opening.
Earlier this month, the city council launched the An Tobar affordable housing development in Rahoon.
Applications for the Affordable Housing Scheme opened at midday on September 8. Within just four minutes, 82 applicants had registered for the scheme.
In less than an hour, 69 full completed applications had been submitted to be in line for affordable housing units.
To date, Galway City Council have 185 registered applicants with 90 fully submitted applications for An Tobar, showing the level of demand for affordable housing.
With these affordable housing schemes, the price paid by successful applicants is based on income and mortgage capacity.
The new owners enter into an Affordable Dwelling Purchase Agreement with Galway City Council, which will take an equity share in the home, equal to the difference between the market value and the purchase price paid. The equity share is expressed as a percentage of the market value of the home.
The new owner can choose to buy out the equity share in their home at any time within 40 years by one or a series of payments to Galway City Council. Certain events can trigger the equity share to be repaid.
The ‘An Tobar’ development consists of 14 homes – yet interest far exceeded this number and suggests a highly competitive housing market. Partnered with Cairn Homes, four two-bed houses and ten three-bed houses were for sale.
Following the closure of the online application portal at 12 noon on 29 September 2025, Galway City Council anticipates allocating the homes as soon as possible, with successful applicants expected to take up residence in Quarter 1 of 2026.
The City Council has said that it is progressing with further development of its own lands, and is seeking to partner with developers for further developments, all schemes of which will be advertised well in advance of opening dates.
