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Alan Healy: The construction cranes are back, but who is funding them

Cranes fill Irish skies for new housing, signaling economic recovery, but the apartment market is broken, relying on State subsidies to meet critical demand.

Apartments under construction at Cork's Marina Depot by Glenveagh Homes under the LDA’s Project Tosaigh scheme. Picture: Larry Cummins

Fri, 05 Jun, 2026 - 05:29

Alan Healy

Construction cranes are once again dominating the skylines in cities and towns around Ireland.

They remain a preferred barometer of the economic health of a region. And, unlike previous construction booms, much of the development is now focused on badly-needed housing.

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