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#Housing

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

<p>The National Women’s Council said: 'There are over 5,000 children in Ireland’s homeless services, with more than 4,500 women in emergency accommodation. But these figures are just the tip of the iceberg, because the official statistics don’t count women in refuges, or families sleeping on couches.' File photo</p>

news

Housing crisis leaves women trapped between homelessness or staying with abuser

The National Women’s Council said women in domestic violence situations are faced with having to move 'from one emergency accommodation centre or refuge to another'

<p>Robert Sheehan has sought permission to raise the roof as part of the extension of a farmhouse he bought three years ago. </p>

residential

Robert Sheehan joins Mescal and Ronan in West Cork 'Craic Pack' as he seeks planning for farmhouse extension

<p>Garret Doocey has been appointed deputy secretary general in the Department of Housing with responsibility for housing activation.</p>

politics

Housing tsar appointed almost a year on from scandal over position

Government climbdown on proposals to regulate short-term lets

politics

Government climbdown on proposals to regulate short-term lets

Loading platform made of scaffold system on housing development construction site

economy

Construction activity continues decline as total home completions fall short of targets

House and rent prices

news

Housing minister admits 'archaic' aspects of homebuying need 'increased transparency'

Close up of a sad young Caucasian woman reading bad news

Gardaí must be trained to identify sex-for-rent offers, Oireachtas told

Coalition urges garda training, victim supports and inclusion of sex-for-rent exploitation in Ireland’s domestic and gender-based violence strategy

Mon, 09 Feb, 2026

Estate agent For Sale sign

One in three buyers expect to encounter illegal 'ghost bids' on houses sold in open auctions

ESRI research warns open auctions and online bidding systems are driving higher prices, stress and mistrust for first-time buyers

Mon, 09 Feb, 2026

UCC students commuting before dawn as housing crisis fuels daily parking battle

UCC students commuting before dawn as housing crisis fuels daily parking battle

Sky-high rents and a lack of public student housing are forcing UCC students into long commutes and daily parking stress

Mon, 09 Feb, 2026

Students 'denied full college experience' by lack of apartments

Students 'denied full college experience' by lack of apartments

While thousands of apartments have been built in Cork recently, high costs and regulatory uncertainty have slowed delivery of much-needed student accommodation, writes Emer Walsh

Mon, 09 Feb, 2026

Priory Hall Residents Leave

It’s time to tackle Celtic Tiger era building defects once and for all

Will 2026 be the year when owners and tenants living in Celtic Tiger-era buildings with fire safety and structural defects finally get to live in safe homes?

Mon, 09 Feb, 2026

Green model houses and banknotes

Irish Examiner view: Scarcity not the only rub with houses

When it comes to profoundly important purchases, such as buying a house, the room for making errors and spending more than we should unnecessarily narrows considerably

Mon, 09 Feb, 2026

Outrage as Tipperary council moves to demolish nearly completed homes left idle since 2007

Outrage as Tipperary council moves to demolish nearly completed homes left idle since 2007

Councillors and TDs question costs, transparency and housing priorities as Tipperary council plans demolition of long-abandoned Cashel homes

Sun, 08 Feb, 2026

SOCIAL DEMOCRATS NATIONAL CONFERENCE

Housing figures 'turned out to be a complete fabrication', Holly Cairns tells Social Democrats conference

Ms Cairns's speech follows the party’s recent policy launch for a State construction company and the creation of modular homes factories to 'ramp up supply'

Sun, 08 Feb, 2026

Using mobile phone

Text helpline sees record number of struggling people make contact

Text service sees spike in conversations about housing problems and loneliness

Sun, 08 Feb, 2026

Paul Hosford: Why Irish opinion polls rarely decide who actually wins elections

Paul Hosford: Why Irish opinion polls rarely decide who actually wins elections

Sinn Féin’s polling lead revives familiar narratives, but Irish electoral history suggests momentum and outcomes are rarely the same thing

Sat, 07 Feb, 2026

Poor tired depressed hungry homeless man holding a cardboard house. nostalgia and hope concept.

How Ireland became a wealthy country that can’t build the basics

Despite record surpluses, Ireland’s reactive planning culture continues to undermine housing delivery, infrastructure investment and long-term climate resilience

Sat, 07 Feb, 2026

Majority of estate agents expect more landlords to leave the market

Majority of estate agents expect more landlords to leave the market

New tenancy rules due to come into effect on March 1 cited as main reason

Thu, 05 Feb, 2026

Tenancy Agreement

New rent laws will increase rents and evictions and fail to improve housing conditions for tenants, report says

'The new rent pressure zone legislation will create further opportunities for exploitation by incentivising landlords to find ways to evict tenants in order to increase rents,' report author says

Wed, 04 Feb, 2026

Limerick Chamber raises concerns over fall in housing completions

Limerick Chamber raises concerns over fall in housing completions

Limerick Chamber said the county’s downward trend 'represents a growing structural risk', with the Irish economy continuing to expand and regional cities compete for investment and skills

Wed, 04 Feb, 2026

New homes under construction.

More judges needed to help cut red tape in planning cases, minister told

Dáil housing committee said in order to ensure judicial reviews were heard promptly and without delay, additional judges should be appointed, with other staffing needs met as required

Wed, 04 Feb, 2026

Taoiseach Micheal Martin visit to Wexford

Taoiseach concedes housing shortfall but insists 50,000 homes a year is achievable

The Taoiseach said stronger investment conditions could drive housing supply higher, while confirming a St Patrick’s Day White House visit

Tue, 03 Feb, 2026

calculator with the word rent

Rent reform: Tenants and landlords alike are let down by new residential tenancies bill

Labour's housing spokesman says the the Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026 will spook small landlords into leaving the market, while failing to protect tenants

Tue, 03 Feb, 2026

Coronavirus - Mon Jan 18, 2021

Almost 17,000 people were homeless in Ireland over Christmas

Figures released by the Department of Housing show 11,546 adults and 5,188 children were homeless in December

Fri, 30 Jan, 2026

'They’re being let down': Elderly and vulnerable people in Cork facility left without heating

'They’re being let down': Elderly and vulnerable people in Cork facility left without heating

It is understood that, over the last few weeks, the complex has been coping with low water pressure, leaving some residents in upper apartments without heating or hot water

Fri, 30 Jan, 2026

New homes under construction.

Figures show Government faces its 'ultimate housing test' this year, experts say

'If we don’t see an improvement in the first half of 2026, then it’s certain that 2026 will be another year of missed Government targets.'

Thu, 29 Jan, 2026

Limerick mayor to fund review examining why housing is 'so far below' county's needs

Limerick mayor to fund review examining why housing is 'so far below' county's needs

'Overall, the total completions across the city and county during the first three years of the [Development] Plan are less than one year’s housing target. That legacy is why we now face such severe pressure.'

Thu, 29 Jan, 2026

New home completions hit highest level since 2011 despite missing 2025 target

New home completions hit highest level since 2011 despite missing 2025 target

Apartment construction drove a sharp rise in housing output last year, though completions still fell short of Government targets

Thu, 29 Jan, 2026

Housing Stock

'Acceleration' of homebuilding in 2025 leads to just under 28,000 under construction last month

However, the Government’s target of 300,000 new homes by 2030 is still a way off

Thu, 29 Jan, 2026

new houses

Value of average mortgage up more than €21,000 in a year

The data shows first-time buyers are borrowing nearly €320,000 just to afford a home

Wed, 28 Jan, 2026

Tenancy Agreement

Housing minister admits some rents will rise under new legislation

While new bill offers fixed tenures to new tenancies, it also allows landlords reset rents to market rates where a renter leaves of their own volition

Tue, 27 Jan, 2026

Call for emergency co-ordinators to have adequate records of people with disabilities ahead of storms

Call for emergency co-ordinators to have adequate records of people with disabilities ahead of storms

The Oireachtas climate committee's series of proposals were issued as the country was battered by Storm Chandra

Tue, 27 Jan, 2026

Property To Let, London.

Number of tenants claiming tax credit down almost 50% in a year

It was suggested to the Dáil that it could be an 'obligatory part of a new tenancy contract' that information on the tax credit is provided to tenants when new rental rules come into effect on March 1

Tue, 27 Jan, 2026

House hunting? Casting for new Irish property series now open

House hunting? Casting for new Irish property series now open

If you're flummoxed by freeholds or muddled by mortgage terms then Help Me Buy A Home might be able to help — here's how to apply...

Mon, 26 Jan, 2026

House prices

Just 207 homes rented under Fair Deal scheme despite promises to free up thousands

Reforms meant to unlock vacant Fair Deal homes for renters have delivered only a fraction of what ministers promised

Mon, 26 Jan, 2026

Banks call for more financial integration during Ireland's EU presidency

Banks call for more financial integration during Ireland's EU presidency

Banking and Payments Federation Ireland says the Government’s presidency offers the opportunity to drive progress

Mon, 26 Jan, 2026

Builder Fitting Insulation Boards Into Roof Of New Home

Over 3,000 vacant homes brought back into use during 2025

16,607 applications have been received since 2022. Of them, 12,096 refurbishments have been approved and 4,514 grants paid out

Mon, 26 Jan, 2026

Population collapse threatens future of GAA clubs across Iveragh and rural Kerry

Population collapse threatens future of GAA clubs across Iveragh and rural Kerry

Council members warn planning restrictions and infrastructure gaps are hollowing out rural Kerry communities and threatening schools and GAA clubs

Sun, 25 Jan, 2026

Mairead Ronan's housing redesign on hold after local objections

Mairead Ronan's housing redesign on hold after local objections

Former Today FM presenter, Mairead Ronan, has had to put plans for a Dermot-Bannon designed refurbishment and extension of her holiday home in Waterford on hold following objections from several local residents including two of her neighbours.

Sun, 25 Jan, 2026

Work begins on 119-unit Douglas scheme on one of Cork City's last greenfield sites

Work begins on 119-unit Douglas scheme on one of Cork City's last greenfield sites

119-unit South Douglas Rd scheme is being spearheaded by O’Callaghan Properties, in a joint venture with the Whitaker family

Thu, 22 Jan, 2026

Housing Infrastructure

Government to appoint housing tsar within eight weeks, says minister

Government formally advertised for the position in October, offering a salary of €217,000

Wed, 21 Jan, 2026

Tenancy Agreement

Opposition criticises 'terrible' pace of new rental legislation

'This government is so slow that it has to be deliberate', said Labour TD Conor Sheehan

Wed, 21 Jan, 2026

Cork County Council to 'ramp-up' building of social and affordable homes this year

Cork County Council to 'ramp-up' building of social and affordable homes this year

Council aims to build at least 697 social houses all over the county in 2026, with nearly every town and village in the mix

Mon, 19 Jan, 2026

Knife crime sentencing

Government to pitch for housing investment at international property event

An estimated €20bn per year in development finance is required to deliver at least 300,000 new homes by 2030

Fri, 16 Jan, 2026

Building stock

Housing commencements record significant fall to just over 16,400 in 2025

However, there was some positive news as there was an increase in new orders and jobs across the construction sector

Thu, 15 Jan, 2026

'They look at colour': Lone-parent migrant families face racism in rental market, new report finds

'They look at colour': Lone-parent migrant families face racism in rental market, new report finds

ActionAid Ireland said families told to leave direct provision given 'no workable path to a safe, stable home'

Tue, 13 Jan, 2026

Cork City social housing projects to deliver more than 800 social or affordable homes

Cork City social housing projects to deliver more than 800 social or affordable homes

Two developments consist of the 217-unit Railyard Apartments scheme on the old Carey’s Tool Hire and Sextant site in the city centre, and the 606-unit Creamfields development on the old Kinsale Road

Mon, 12 Jan, 2026

Senior Department of Housing officials approved controversial ‘Moving in with Family’ video

Senior Department of Housing officials approved controversial ‘Moving in with Family’ video

Internal emails show that the script for the video was prepared by SpunOut and the Housing Agency, a statutory body under the aegis of the department

Fri, 09 Jan, 2026

Tenancy Agreement

Government urged to apply 'rent brake' to protect tenants from large rent hikes under new law

New legislation will mean that, from March, when a tenant leaves a property, the landlord can set rent for new tenants at the market rate, instead of the current 2%

Thu, 08 Jan, 2026

IDA hands over 41-hectare Kilbarry site with potential for major Cork housing development

IDA hands over 41-hectare Kilbarry site with potential for major Cork housing development

The 41-hectare Kilbarry site has been rezoned for housing and could deliver a major new community by 2027

Thu, 08 Jan, 2026