Irish Examiner view: Hard to envisage a large-scale solution to Ireland's housing crisis

Painful experience has taught the electorate to be sceptical of guarantees, no matter who makes them.

A decision by An Bord Pleanála this week illustrates one aspect of the housing challenge in Ireland. Plans for 1,300 apartments in Cork's docklands are now on hold indefinitely. 

The accommodation crisis in the country remains one of the signature challenges facing Ireland, and it’s a live topic on thousands of doorsteps.

That is the literal truth, with canvassers encountering multiple generations of families living under one roof out of sheer necessity: The lack of viable alternatives mean many houses are now home to grandparents, parents, and children.