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#Housing

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

<p>The annual average total of 6,572 social housing units is almost half of the new targets of 12,000 per annum. File photo</p>

comment-analysis

Lack of expertise in local authorities is a problem for new housing plan

There's no evidence that the measures in the Government's new housing plan are sufficient to tackle what is now a full-blown crisis, writes Anthony Leddin, a former member of the Department of Economics at the University of Limerick

<p>Across the first nine months of 2025, 3,143 new-build social homes were delivered, over 48% higher than the same period in 2024 (2,120) and above outputs for Q1–Q3 in both 2023 (2,638) and 2022 (2,704). File photo</p>

news

Government set to miss social housing targets despite 'strong growth'

<p>Annmarie Duffy from Dublin's north inner city is currently living in a state-leased B&B in west Dublin with her husband, and her three children. Photo: Gareth Chaney</p>

spotlight

Homelessness: Mother living in B&B with her family on housing list for 19 years

Row over Limerick plans to develop modular rental properties

munster

Row over Limerick plans to develop modular rental properties

Homelessness: Young mother forced to live in a mobile home after 50% rent rise

spotlight

Homelessness: Young mother forced to live in a mobile home after 50% rent rise

Two children on the floor read a book in a room with Christmas

comment-analysis

Homelessness is now seen as an almost inevitable problem

shelter

Homelessness: 'My family has been moved from county to county for two years'

'You just try and keep your family together, and in the same school, but at one point we were in Drogheda and the kids’ school was in Blanchardstown'

Mon, 22 Dec, 2025

Extra €400m ISIF funding has potential to deliver 5,000 homes, says Government

Extra €400m ISIF funding has potential to deliver 5,000 homes, says Government

Irish banks also commit to making €200m available in addition to the increased ISIF funding

Mon, 22 Dec, 2025

Irish Examiner view: So this is Christmas and what have you done about homelessness?

Irish Examiner view: So this is Christmas and what have you done about homelessness?

Today's shocking but unsurprising 'Irish Examiner' report shows that 16,700 people are living in hotels, B&Bs, and other temporary accommodation

Mon, 22 Dec, 2025

To solve the housing crisis, let builders get on with the job, says developer Michael O'Flynn

To solve the housing crisis, let builders get on with the job, says developer Michael O'Flynn

More viable zoned land, planning reform, and accelerated delivery of infrastructure are all part of the solution to the crisis

Sun, 21 Dec, 2025

Mother and son looking out of window

A national shame: Another Christmas for thousands in emergency accommodation

This year, more than 16,700 people will spend their Christmas in emergency accommodation, many of them children who have never lived in their own home

Sun, 21 Dec, 2025

Happy family on train station

Homeless hub needed for the 70% refused emergency accommodation in West Cork, says councillor

It comes after an FOI request from Deputy Holly Cairns’ office last month revealed that Cork County Council refused 563 people emergency accommodation in 2024

Sun, 21 Dec, 2025

New homes under construction.

Mick Clifford: Have we learned nothing from Ireland’s long and costly building disasters?

Proposed amendments to housing law are being rushed through the Oireachtas, raising fears of loopholes, abuse and future legal fallout

Sat, 20 Dec, 2025

Irish Economy As Latest Retail Figures Released

Paul Hosford: Government's failure to improve people's lives risks a disconnected electorate vulnerable to populism

Danger from failing to address issues, through legislation or the actual implementation of glossy plans, goes far deeper than not making childcare cheaper or housing more available

Sat, 20 Dec, 2025

Drop in skilled trades stalling Ireland's housing goals, report says

Drop in skilled trades stalling Ireland's housing goals, report says

In the 12 months to October 2025, 23,599 housing units began construction

Fri, 19 Dec, 2025

Greystar expands its student accommodation portfolio

Greystar expands its student accommodation portfolio

The complexes added to their Irish portfolio are in Dublin and Galway

Fri, 19 Dec, 2025

Cairn Homes expected on site in Blarney in January to begin €1.2bn housing development

Cairn Homes expected on site in Blarney in January to begin €1.2bn housing development

The multi-phase development is expected to take 10-12 years

Thu, 18 Dec, 2025

Home For Sale Real Estate Sign and Beautiful New House.

House prices continue to rise but rate of increase slows to lowest in 18 months, CSO says

Property prices in Ireland are now over 20% above their Celtic Tiger peak, and prices outside Dublin are nearly triple what they were at their lowest in May 2013

Wed, 17 Dec, 2025

National Children's Hospital Ireland

Public procurement 'still heavily favours low-cost bids, even for high-risk projects'

BAM Ireland says the approach leads to 'prolonged delivery timelines' and 'escalating costs'

Tue, 16 Dec, 2025

Building stock

EU housing plan to reform state aid rules and enhanced European Investment Bank funding

MEP Barry Cowen welcomed the plan, saying: Taking bodies like the Land Development Agency and approved housing bodies out of a rigid on-balance-sheet straitjacket will be an absolute game-changer in terms of scale, ambition and long-term investment planning

Tue, 16 Dec, 2025

Fixing South Kerry's depopulation problem

Fixing South Kerry's depopulation problem

An alarming drop in the number of children in South Kerry is running counter to the population rise elsewhere, and it's all down to housing policy, writes Orla Hegarty

Tue, 16 Dec, 2025

Cost of living has forced people from 'all walks of life' through our doors, says Cork Penny Dinners

Cost of living has forced people from 'all walks of life' through our doors, says Cork Penny Dinners

'The numbers will grow until the cost of living comes down to an affordable living for everybody'

Mon, 15 Dec, 2025

Vacant property grants: Aid will be extended to 2030 despite Coalition row about caps

Vacant property grants: Aid will be extended to 2030 despite Coalition row about caps

Cabinet to consider new plan after Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil resolve dispute about limits on the value of eligible properties

Mon, 15 Dec, 2025

Unrecognizable couple arriving at the accommodation with their suitcases

Just 1.3% of short-term lettings compliant with planning laws

Register for all short-term lets to be introduced from May

Wed, 10 Dec, 2025

FILE PHOTO The Central Bank has fined Bank of Ireland over €1 million for its role in the tracker mortgage controversy END

New mortgage interest rates at lowest levels since March 2023

Central Bank data shows Ireland has the sixth highest rates in the eurozone

Wed, 10 Dec, 2025

Sarah Harte: Government’s ‘tone-deaf’ housing message shows why young people are leaving

Sarah Harte: Government’s ‘tone-deaf’ housing message shows why young people are leaving

A scrapped Government video and rising student rents highlight a housing crisis pushing young people abroad and leaving families devastated

Wed, 10 Dec, 2025

Minister defends housing plan as surveyors say apartments now cost up to €650k

Minister defends housing plan as surveyors say apartments now cost up to €650k

“Who is going to buy them?” Sinn Féin’s housing spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin asked housing minister James Browne.

Tue, 09 Dec, 2025

Construction activity drops again as building material costs rise

Construction activity drops again as building material costs rise

Work on housing projects fell for the seventh consecutive month, but at the slowest pace since June

Tue, 09 Dec, 2025

Students sitting in amphitheater

'Student accommodation will be unaffordable' if plan to permit more rent hikes goes through

UCC Students' Union says rent may deter people from third-level education and calls for more publicly-funded apartments

Mon, 08 Dec, 2025

Estate Agents Signage

Lack of transparency sowing mistrust in property agents, report finds

A new report finds homebuyers routinely pay far above asking amid opaque bidding and a property market starved of transparency

Mon, 08 Dec, 2025

Proposal to allow more rent hikes for student accommodation to attract developers to sector

Proposal to allow more rent hikes for student accommodation to attract developers to sector

Higher Education and Housing are at odds over how often student accommodation rents can return to market rates under RPZ rules

Sat, 06 Dec, 2025

justice scales legal law

Judicial review plans are an attack on justice

The Government is burying the public consultation for drastic new rules limiting access to the courts over the Christmas period — don't let them away with it

Fri, 05 Dec, 2025

Accelerating Infrastructure launch

ieExplains: The Government's 'Accelerating Infrastructure' plan

Most actions are scheduled to be completed by the end of 2026, with some expected to be done in 2027

Wed, 03 Dec, 2025

Infrastructure is the battleground this Government cannot afford to lose

Infrastructure is the battleground this Government cannot afford to lose

The Coalition’s ambitious infrastructure overhaul promises faster delivery of major projects, but legal risks and EU constraints could undermine progress

Wed, 03 Dec, 2025

Accelerating Infrastructure launch

New laws to fast-track major projects as Government targets ‘serial objectors’

The Coalition announces sweeping changes to streamline planning, limit legal challenges and accelerate delivery of large-scale national infrastructure projects

Wed, 03 Dec, 2025

Happy family on train station

Family homelessness in the South-West more than doubles in four years, says report

'Behind every percentage increase are children growing up in emergency accommodation, often for extended periods,' says Focus Ireland

Mon, 01 Dec, 2025

Colleges will be asked to help deliver 42,000 student beds

Colleges will be asked to help deliver 42,000 student beds

Universities and other third-level institutions will be urged to negotiate directly with private accommodation providers as part of the Government’s new student accommodation strategy

Mon, 01 Dec, 2025

Mick Clifford: Apartment Vat cut makes no sense and won’t boost housing supply

S Mick Clifford: Apartment Vat cut makes no sense and won’t boost housing supply

A Vat cut meant to boost apartment construction has instead exposed a circular, ineffective policy that neither lowers costs nor increases supply

Sat, 29 Nov, 2025

Apartment Vat cut offers ‘no saving for anybody’

Apartment Vat cut offers ‘no saving for anybody’

Sources tell the 'Irish Examiner' Budget 2026 measure to stimulate apartment building is useless as the Department of Housing is clawing back the reduction

Fri, 28 Nov, 2025

Sad evicted mother with child worried relocating house

Homeless children 'having their childhoods stolen a day at a time' in emergency accommodation

It comes as statistics published this week by the Residential Tenancies Board showed the number of termination notices being issued to tenants has surged

Fri, 28 Nov, 2025

Women and children trapped between domestic violence and homelessness, report finds

Women and children trapped between domestic violence and homelessness, report finds

Surviors have to choose to stay with abuser or navigate the housing crisis, says National Women’s Council

Fri, 28 Nov, 2025

Woman looking at houses and flats in the window of an estate agent in London, UK

Value of mortgages up 4.2% annually despite drop in approvals

Banking and Payments Federation said first-time buyer mortgage approvals remain robust despite a slowdown in mover purchase activity

Fri, 28 Nov, 2025

Irish Cabinet meeting

Tánaiste accuses Sinn Féin of 'angry jack-in-the-box routine' over housing crisis

Sinn Féin finance spokesperson Pearse Doherty said 'Fine Gael's approach to housing and to renters is letting the market run wild'

Thu, 27 Nov, 2025

the notice of eviction of tenants hangs on the door of the house

Landlords issue 5,400 eviction notices as rent rules face fresh scrutiny

RTB data shows a sharp rise in termination notices but indicates rent caps continue to slow inflation for existing tenants

Thu, 27 Nov, 2025

Major jump in mortgage lending helps credit union sector boost loan book to new record

Major jump in mortgage lending helps credit union sector boost loan book to new record

The average loan outstanding also rose to a new high of €11,044, up from €10,833

Wed, 26 Nov, 2025

Rental watchdog defends €2m printing and postage spend as part of 'statutory duties'

Rental watchdog defends €2m printing and postage spend as part of 'statutory duties'

Fianna Fáil MEP Cynthia Ní Mhurchú questioned both that spend and the €1.3m the Residential Tenancies Board has spent on PR and communications advice since 2019

Tue, 25 Nov, 2025

Home Building Finance Ireland raises €200m from Danske Bank to increase lending capacity

Home Building Finance Ireland raises €200m from Danske Bank to increase lending capacity

HBFI has been able to amplify its initial credit line to generate a much higher level of approved funding, by recycling loans as they are repaid from the sale of completed homes.

Mon, 24 Nov, 2025

Inner City Helping Homeless hold protest

Empty property earmarked for homeless costing over €2m a year

Avalon House was the subject of a legal settlement, part of which included the transfer of the agreed lease from Peter McVerry Trust to Dublin City Council

Mon, 24 Nov, 2025

Estate agent giving house keys to customer and sign agreement in office.

Rental watchdog to target landlords suspected of breaching rent pressure zone rules

The number of landlords investigated over serious breaches of rental laws had doubled over the last year

Fri, 21 Nov, 2025

Holly Cairns: How many homeless people are not being counted?

Holly Cairns: How many homeless people are not being counted?

If local authorities can turn away people in caravans with no running water or power, and those fleeing abusive families, the homeless figures mean nothing

Fri, 21 Nov, 2025