OECD warns of 'heightened concerns' over housing affordability in Ireland

Body seeks “bold reforms” for Ireland to lower emissions from agriculture, to tackle a longstanding “de facto two-tiered” healthcare system.

It warns the spike in building cost inflation this year will pose new challenges for the Government’s Housing for All programme, which it says, “will take time to deliver significant results”.

The Government will need to push changes to the planning system as building shortages and a sharp rise in house prices threaten to make accommodation too expensive for many families, according to a major report from the Organisation for Cooperation and Development.

In its latest major country report, the OECD also seeks “bold reforms” for Ireland to lower emissions from agriculture, to tackle a longstanding “de facto two-tiered” healthcare system and urges the Government to raise the retirement age for State pensions.