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#Housing

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

<p>The Department of Higher Education and the Department of Housing are at odds over plans by the former to permit the resetting of rents for private student accommodation once every three years. Picture: iStock</p>

politics

'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

<p>A recent survey by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission found that just 16% of buyers feel the housing market is transparent, and that homebuyers are at risk of inadequate information during the pre-sale-agreed period and conveyancing stage. Picture: Colin Keegan/Collins </p>

news

Lack of transparency sowing mistrust in property agents, report finds

<p>A source said higher education minister James Lawless 'is trying to get student accommodation built in the most cost-effective way for the State, balancing affordability and viability'. Stock picture: Larry Cummins</p>

politics

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

justice scales legal law

comment-analysis

Judicial review plans are an attack on justice

Accelerating Infrastructure launch

news

ieExplains: The Government's 'Accelerating Infrastructure' plan

Infrastructure is the battleground this Government cannot afford to lose

comment-analysis

Infrastructure is the battleground this Government cannot afford to lose

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

Irish Examiner view: Will the Government's infrastructure plan cut through red tape for the better?

Irish Examiner view: Will the Government's infrastructure plan cut through red tape for the better?

There are always potential issues with hasty legislation, while any hint of corners being cut should be strongly resisted

Tue, 02 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

Reforms must tackle judicial and public procurement processes to deliver infrastructure

Reforms must tackle judicial and public procurement processes to deliver infrastructure

When political will and technical expertise align, Ireland can achieve anything — but we need to tackle the roadblocks first

Fri, 21 Nov, 2025

Median mortgage for first-time buyers up €24,000, while median income rises €4,000

Median mortgage for first-time buyers up €24,000, while median income rises €4,000

The median property value during the first half of this year stood at €357,000 for first-time buyers purchasing an existing property

Fri, 21 Nov, 2025

First-time buyers: Housing minister says caps on supports and grants are 'under review'

First-time buyers: Housing minister says caps on supports and grants are 'under review'

James Browne was quizzed about an anomaly reported in the 'Irish Examiner' where caps on State-backed mortgages put certain affordable home schemes beyond reach

Thu, 20 Nov, 2025

Number of housing sites with nothing done since filing of commencement notice trebles

Number of housing sites with nothing done since filing of commencement notice trebles

A commencement notice is a formal notification that construction is set to begin

Thu, 20 Nov, 2025

Ex-Peter McVerry Trust CEO to tell PAC charity was in ‘financial chaos’ with €18m debt

Ex-Peter McVerry Trust CEO to tell PAC charity was in ‘financial chaos’ with €18m debt

Former CEO Francis Doherty will tell TDs the Peter McVerry Trust was deeply indebted, mismanaged and misrepresented as financially stable

Thu, 20 Nov, 2025

Government reveals intention to replace apartment planning guidelines during legal challenge

Government reveals intention to replace apartment planning guidelines during legal challenge

The guidelines published in July included a reduction in the minimum permitted size of apartments among other changes

Mon, 17 Nov, 2025

Minister's 'war' on vacancy and dereliction is missing timeframe and crucial policy measures

Minister's 'war' on vacancy and dereliction is missing timeframe and crucial policy measures

The Government's latest housing plan contains all the right soundbites, but no detail or timeframe, write Jude Sherry and Frank O'Connor of #DerelictIreland

Mon, 17 Nov, 2025

judgement of judge about legislation, authority, crime, government, justice, punishment, verdict at court decision by gavel. ham

Government 'to robustly defend' High Court challenge on apartment standards

When compared to the previous guidelines, the new rules are expected to bring down construction costs by between €50,000 and €100,000 per apartment

Sun, 16 Nov, 2025

Cork council to spend €1.425bn on major projects over three years with main focus on housing

Cork council to spend €1.425bn on major projects over three years with main focus on housing

Cork County Council bosses say they recognise housing remains a key challenge and this is why 39% of money, €563.8m, in the three-year plan is being allocated to it

Sun, 16 Nov, 2025

Paul Hosford: Why 'starter homes' won’t fix the housing crisis — and may create new problems

Paul Hosford: Why 'starter homes' won’t fix the housing crisis — and may create new problems

The Government’s renewed focus on 'starter homes' highlights a deeper issue: housing policy built on assumptions that don’t match real lives

Sat, 15 Nov, 2025

The Deirdre O’Shaughnessy Podcast: Homeless mothers fear losing newborns to social services

The Deirdre O’Shaughnessy Podcast: Homeless mothers fear losing newborns to social services

Rising homelessness is leaving new mothers terrified their newborns could be taken into State care after hospital discharge

Listen | Fri, 14 Nov, 2025

Planning board refuses 140 new homes on site overlooking Blarney Castle due to traffic hazard

Planning board refuses 140 new homes on site overlooking Blarney Castle due to traffic hazard

The commission found that the developer, Eoin Sheehan, had also provided inadequate justification for the type of housing mix proposed

Fri, 14 Nov, 2025

Harvey Morrison protest

Irish Examiner view: Getting to the root of CHI problem

Harvey Morrison Sherratt, who had scoliosis and spina bifida, died in July at the age of nine, having waited years for surgery. His parents have been vocal in calling for action on this issue

Fri, 14 Nov, 2025

Micheal Martin visit to Donore development

Assistance payments to rise as Taoiseach defends absence of annual housing delivery targets

The Taoiseach Micheál Martin said: 'The bottom line is, we need 300,000 homes.'

Thu, 13 Nov, 2025

Tadgh McNally: Removing annual housing targets removes political accountability

Tadgh McNally: Removing annual housing targets removes political accountability

The State will need to more than double the number of houses it is currently building each year to get on track, going from the 30,330 built in 2024 to around 60,000 per year

Thu, 13 Nov, 2025

ieExplains: Breaking down the promises in Government's new housing plan

ieExplains: Breaking down the promises in Government's new housing plan

The Government has now decided to move away from the yearly figures, with opposition parties accusing it of attempting to dodge accountability if it had ended up underperforming

Thu, 13 Nov, 2025

Housing minister criticised for 'fleeing the country' amid backlash over new housing plan

Housing minister criticised for 'fleeing the country' amid backlash over new housing plan

Opposition parties slam the Government’s new housing plan, claiming targets are too low and accountability has been 'abandoned'

Thu, 13 Nov, 2025

New homes under construction.

Taoiseach defends housing target removal as developer says 'we could be doing so much more'

Within the plan, there is a promise to deliver 'more cost-rental homes' for renters, but it does not outline a target

Thu, 13 Nov, 2025

Judicial reviews serve the common good

Judicial reviews serve the common good

Rather than castigating public-spirited ordinary people concerned by planning problems, the Government should focus on properly resourcing the planning and legal systems

Thu, 13 Nov, 2025

Cork City Council increases budget for 2026 to €362.2m

Cork City Council increases budget for 2026 to €362.2m

Councillors also agreed a 5% increase in commercial rates — but will reintroduce rebates of up to 4% for qualifying ratepayers

Wed, 12 Nov, 2025

Planning granted for Cork Magdalene laundry site to become student housing

Planning granted for Cork Magdalene laundry site to become student housing

An Coimisiún Pleanála has upheld approval for a 957-bed student complex at Cork’s former Good Shepherd Convent, with strict historical safeguards

Wed, 12 Nov, 2025

Presidential inauguration - Dublin

'There should be no child without a home': Charities seek clarity from Government's housing plan

Focus Ireland received the support of former president Mary McAleese and Miss Ireland contestant Katie Wallace for its campaign to end child homelessness

Wed, 12 Nov, 2025

New housing plan aims to deliver more than 300,000 homes by 2030

New housing plan aims to deliver more than 300,000 homes by 2030

Housing minister James Browne says the Government’s new housing plan aims to drastically reduce child homelessness and boost nationwide housing delivery

Wed, 12 Nov, 2025

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

Homes available to rent have halved compared to pre-covid levels, new research shows

While rents have risen nationally by just over 4% from this time last year, the spike has been 9.3% in Cork City and 11.4% in Waterford, Daft.ie report finds

Wed, 12 Nov, 2025

Apprehension grows in Fianna Fáil ahead of Government housing plan launch

Apprehension grows in Fianna Fáil ahead of Government housing plan launch

There will be a second Fianna Fáil parliamentary party meeting on Thursday morning to discuss the new housing plan

Wed, 12 Nov, 2025

Housing stock

Four in 10 businesses have lost recruits due to a lack of suitable housing

Housing crisis now a major constraint on business, says study

Wed, 12 Nov, 2025

Loading platform made of scaffold system on housing development construction site

Homebuilding activity falls to weakest level since June

Developers claim reported decision-making among customers amid sensitivity around costs

Tue, 11 Nov, 2025