International funds 'will be required in Irish housing for years to come'

About 20% of the 20,000 housing units in the year leading up to the Covid pandemic were built by tapping  'institutional' investors and international funds will continue to play a role in building houses for rent and in providing financing for housing, economist says

Mullen Park estate Maynooth, Co Kildare, is the centre of a political row after it emerged that global investment fund Round Hill Capital had bought 135 of the 170 homes in the estate. Picture: Colin Keegan/ Collins Dublin

International capital from funds will be needed to play a big role on both sides of the Irish housing market for years to come, Goodbody chief economist Dermot O'Leary has said.

About 20% of the 20,000 housing units in the year leading up to the Covid pandemic were built by tapping investment from "institutional" investors and international funds will continue to play a role in building houses for rent and in providing financing for housing, Mr O'Leary said.