<p>Ireland is building more homes than it has in over a decade — and yet, the housing crisis keeps getting worse. Rents are soaring. House prices are out of reach. Young people are moving abroad, and families are spending over half their income just to keep a roof over their heads.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>If building more homes was the answer, we’d be seeing progress by now. But we’re not. Why?</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Because the crisis isn’t just about supply. It’s about inequality.</p>
<hr>
<h2>The Myth of “Build More, Problem Solved”</h2>
<p>Irish politicians repeat it like a mantra: “We just need to build more houses.” On paper, it sounds simple. More homes should bring down prices — right?</p>
<p>In reality, the link between supply and affordability has completely broken down.</p>
<p>Take 2023: Ireland built over 32,000 new homes — the highest level since the Celtic Tiger. But average house prices still rose. And rents? They hit record highs.</p>
<p>The truth is, <strong>building more homes doesn’t help when the wrong people are buying them</strong>. And right now, that’s exactly what’s happening.</p>
<hr>
<h2>Who’s Buying the Homes? Not Ordinary Families</h2>
<p><img src="https://financial-blog-content.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/public/images/ie/-why-building-more-homes-in-ireland-wont-fix-the-housing-crisis/1743851844765-Institutional-buyers-Ireland.png" alt="Institutional buyers Ireland"></p>
<p>Wealth inequality in Ireland means ordinary workers are outmatched from the start.</p>
<ul>
<li>Investors and landlords, often cash-rich, swoop in to buy multiple properties.</li>
<li>Institutional investors — including foreign funds — are bulk-buying apartment blocks.</li>
<li>Many homes never even reach the open market.</li>
</ul>
<p>Meanwhile, the average Irish wage earner can’t compete. They’re stuck saving for years just to afford a deposit, while prices climb faster than their pay.</p>
<blockquote>
<p><strong>“A new home doesn’t make the crisis better if it goes straight into a millionaire’s portfolio.”</strong></p>
</blockquote>
<p>This isn’t a free market — it’s a rigged game where the wealthy always get there first.</p>
<hr>
<h2>How Inequality Breaks the Housing Market</h2>
<p>Let’s be blunt: inequality turns housing into a money machine for the rich — and a trap for everyone else.</p>
<ul>
<li>
<p><strong>The rich buy homes to generate more wealth.</strong><br>
They collect rent. They watch prices rise. They gain — simply by owning.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p><strong>Ordinary people rent.</strong><br>
They watch their income disappear into someone else’s mortgage.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p><strong>The gap grows wider every year.</strong></p>
</li>
</ul>
<p>The more homes we build without tackling this dynamic, the more fuel we pour onto the fire. Supply alone won't fix it — <strong>because it doesn’t change who holds the power</strong>.</p>
<hr>
<h2>What Real Solutions Look Like</h2>
<p>To actually fix the housing crisis, we need to deal with the elephant in the room: <strong>wealth inequality</strong>. That means going beyond building numbers and addressing who owns what — and how many.</p>
<p>Here’s what needs to happen:</p>
<ul>
<li>
<p>🏠 <strong>Tax multiple-property owners more heavily.</strong><br>
Penalise those using housing purely for profit, not living.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>🌍 <strong>Restrict speculative foreign investment.</strong><br>
Irish homes shouldn’t be hedge fund assets.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>🧱 <strong>Incentivise affordable ownership.</strong><br>
Not just social housing — but real, attainable homes for working people.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>🔁 <strong>Redistribute housing, not just increase it.</strong><br>
If we don’t change who benefits, nothing changes.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<hr>
<h2>Conclusion: We Don’t Just Have a Housing Crisis. We Have a Wealth Crisis.</h2>
<p>Every new home that ends up in a landlord’s portfolio is a lost opportunity for a family to build a future. Every unaffordable house is a symptom of a deeper disease: <strong>the hoarding of wealth and power by a small elite</strong>.</p>
<p>Until we tackle that imbalance, the Irish housing market will continue to fail the people who need it most.</p>
<blockquote>
<p><strong>“Ireland doesn’t just need more homes. It needs fewer millionaires hoarding them.”</strong></p>
</blockquote>
<hr>
<h2>Relevant Links</h2>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.cso.ie/en/statistics/housing/residentialpropertypriceindex/">CSO Ireland – Residential Property Price Index</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.daft.ie/report">Daft.ie Housing Reports</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/financial-stability-publications/fsr/focus/2023/html/ecb.fsrbox202305_02~6a5f8ca12b.en.html">European Central Bank</a></li>
<li><a href="https://threshold.ie/">Threshold – National Housing Charity</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/ef5ec-housing-for-all-a-new-housing-plan-for-ireland/">Gov.ie – Housing for All Plan</a></li>
</ul>


 Why Building More Homes in Ireland Won’t Fix the Housing Crisis

<h1>Ireland’s Housing Crisis: Why 2025–2026 Will Be Worse for Ordinary People</h1>
<p>The Irish housing market is on track to become even more unforgiving for ordinary people by 2025–2026. Surging house prices, a lack of affordable supply, and deepening wealth inequality are combining to shut out younger generations and working families from homeownership altogether.</p>
<p>This article unpacks why buying a home in Ireland is slipping out of reach for so many, where the market is headed, and the systemic inequality fuelling the crisis.</p>
<h2><img src="https://financial-blog-content.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/public/images/ie/ie-article-test-article-2-understanding-income-inequality/1743851066598-Housing-Cycle.png" alt="Housing-Cycle.png"></h2>
<h2>The Current Landscape: Climbing Prices, Crumbling Hope</h2>
<p>Ireland’s property prices have soared in recent years, fuelled by inflation, chronic undersupply, and broader financial system flaws. Government schemes like rent caps or shared equity programmes have tried to paper over the cracks—but the core problem is <strong>wealth inequality</strong>.</p>
<p>While the wealthy gain from rising asset values, ordinary workers watch their dreams of owning a home fade. Incomes have flatlined while the cost of buying a house has skyrocketed.</p>
<blockquote>
<p><a href="https://www.housingagency.ie/data-hub/house-price-income-ratio?utm_source=chatgpt.com">Average</a>, house prices are now over 10 times the average salary in Dublin—far beyond what most families can afford.</p>
</blockquote>
<hr>
<h2>2025–2026 Forecast: Higher Prices, Deeper Inequality</h2>
<p>The Irish property market isn’t slowing down. Forecasts suggest prices will continue rising, for three key reasons:</p>
<ol>
<li>
<p><strong>Wealth-Driven Demand</strong><br>
The wealthy use property as an investment or store of value. They can pay in cash or leverage wealth, making it easy to outbid mortgage-dependent buyers.<br>
Housing becomes less about shelter, more about preserving wealth.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p><strong>Lack of Affordable Supply</strong><br>
New builds remain expensive due to inflation and land hoarding. Developers prioritise high-end units for higher profits, not family homes for working people.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p><strong>Asset Hoarding</strong><br>
Property is treated like stock—bought by the wealthy for rental income or resale. This hoarding reduces available homes and pushes up both prices and rents.</p>
</li>
</ol>
<hr>
<h2>What This Means for Ordinary People</h2>
<p>By 2025–2026, many Irish families may find homeownership permanently out of reach. The wage-to-house-price ratio is worse than ever before, and the rental market offers no relief.</p>
<p>With fewer homes available to buy, demand shifts to renting—driving up rents and financial strain. Families are stuck paying high rents, unable to save, while wealth continues to concentrate at the top.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>💡 <strong>Real impact</strong>: A household earning €50,000 per year would now need nearly <strong>20 years of gross income</strong> to buy an average home in Dublin or Cork. In turn, Mortgages will increase</p>
</blockquote>
<hr>
<h2>Fixing the Irish Housing Market: It Starts with Inequality</h2>
<p>If Ireland wants to solve its housing crisis, we must go beyond surface-level fixes. The root problem is <strong>wealth inequality</strong>. Here's how we can start to fix it:</p>
<ul>
<li>
<p><strong>Tax Property Speculation</strong><br>
Introduce higher taxes on property flipping and multiple-home ownership to reduce asset hoarding.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p><strong>Incentivise Affordable Housing</strong><br>
Government subsidies and zoning laws must prioritise truly affordable homes—not luxury developments.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p><strong>Restrict Foreign Investment</strong><br>
Limit non-resident buyers who are purchasing Irish homes as speculative investments, not places to live.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p>Without bold action, we risk becoming a nation where only the rich can afford to live with stability.</p>
<hr>
<h2>Conclusion: A Rigged System Unless We Act</h2>
<p>The 2025–2026 housing forecast isn’t just a warning—it’s a call to action.</p>
<p>If current trends continue, homeownership will be reserved for those born into wealth, while the rest of society rents at ever-higher prices, with no path to financial security. This isn’t just an economic issue—it’s a societal one.</p>
<p>Unless we confront the real driver—<strong>wealth inequality</strong>—Ireland’s housing system will remain rigged in favour of the few at the expense of the many.</p>
<hr>
<h2>Relevant Links</h2>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.daft.ie/report">Daft.ie Housing Reports</a></li>
<li><a href="https://threshold.ie/">Threshold – National Housing Charity</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/ef5ec-housing-for-all-a-new-housing-plan-for-ireland/">Irish Government – Housing for All Plan</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/housing/">Irish Times – Housing Crisis Coverage</a></li>
</ul>


# Ireland’s Housing Crisis: Why 2025–2026 Will Be Worse for Ordinary People

The Irish housing market is on track to become even more unforgiving for ordinary people by 2025–2026. Surging house prices, a lack of affordable supply, and deepening wealth inequality are combining to shut out younger generations and working families from homeownership altogether.

This article unpacks why buying a home in Ireland is slipping out of reach for so many, where the market is headed, and the systemic inequality fuelling the crisis.

![Housing-Cycle.png](https://financial-blog-content.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/public/images/ie/ie-article-test-article-2-understanding-income-inequality/1743851066598-Housing-Cycle.png)
---

## The Current Landscape: Climbing Prices, Crumbling Hope

Ireland’s property prices have soared in recent years, fuelled by inflation, chronic undersupply, and broader financial system flaws. Government schemes like rent caps or shared equity programmes have tried to paper over the cracks—but the core problem is **wealth inequality**.

While the wealthy gain from rising asset values, ordinary workers watch their dreams of owning a home fade. Incomes have flatlined while the cost of buying a house has skyrocketed.

>  [Average](https://www.housingagency.ie/data-hub/house-price-income-ratio?utm_source=chatgpt.com), house prices are now over 10 times the average salary in Dublin—far beyond what most families can afford.

---

## 2025–2026 Forecast: Higher Prices, Deeper Inequality

The Irish property market isn’t slowing down. Forecasts suggest prices will continue rising, for three key reasons:

1. **Wealth-Driven Demand**  
   The wealthy use property as an investment or store of value. They can pay in cash or leverage wealth, making it easy to outbid mortgage-dependent buyers.  
   Housing becomes less about shelter, more about preserving wealth.

2. **Lack of Affordable Supply**  
   New builds remain expensive due to inflation and land hoarding. Developers prioritise high-end units for higher profits, not family homes for working people.

3. **Asset Hoarding**  
   Property is treated like stock—bought by the wealthy for rental income or resale. This hoarding reduces available homes and pushes up both prices and rents.

---

## What This Means for Ordinary People

By 2025–2026, many Irish families may find homeownership permanently out of reach. The wage-to-house-price ratio is worse than ever before, and the rental market offers no relief.

With fewer homes available to buy, demand shifts to renting—driving up rents and financial strain. Families are stuck paying high rents, unable to save, while wealth continues to concentrate at the top.

> 💡 **Real impact**: A household earning €50,000 per year would now need nearly **20 years of gross income** to buy an average home in Dublin or Cork. In turn, Mortgages will increase

---

## Fixing the Irish Housing Market: It Starts with Inequality

If Ireland wants to solve its housing crisis, we must go beyond surface-level fixes. The root problem is **wealth inequality**. Here's how we can start to fix it:

- **Tax Property Speculation**  
  Introduce higher taxes on property flipping and multiple-home ownership to reduce asset hoarding.

- **Incentivise Affordable Housing**  
  Government subsidies and zoning laws must prioritise truly affordable homes—not luxury developments.

- **Restrict Foreign Investment**  
  Limit non-resident buyers who are purchasing Irish homes as speculative investments, not places to live.

Without bold action, we risk becoming a nation where only the rich can afford to live with stability.

---

## Conclusion: A Rigged System Unless We Act

The 2025–2026 housing forecast isn’t just a warning—it’s a call to action.

If current trends continue, homeownership will be reserved for those born into wealth, while the rest of society rents at ever-higher prices, with no path to financial security. This isn’t just an economic issue—it’s a societal one.

Unless we confront the real driver—**wealth inequality**—Ireland’s housing system will remain rigged in favour of the few at the expense of the many.

---

## Relevant Links

- [Daft.ie Housing Reports](https://www.daft.ie/report)
- [Threshold – National Housing Charity](https://threshold.ie/)
- [Irish Government – Housing for All Plan](https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/ef5ec-housing-for-all-a-new-housing-plan-for-ireland/)
- [Irish Times – Housing Crisis Coverage](https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/housing/)

Irish Housing Market Forecast for 2025-2026: A System Disadvantaging the Many

<h2>Introduction</h2>
<p>The Irish housing market continues to face significant challenges in 2025. This analysis examines current trends and provides a forecast for the next 12 months.</p>
<h2>Current Market Conditions</h2>
<p>Housing prices have increased by 8.3% year-over-year, with the average home now costing €372,000 nationwide. Dublin prices have seen an even steeper climb at 9.7%.</p>
<h2>Supply and Demand Gap</h2>
<p>New housing starts have improved to 28,500 annually, but still fall short of the estimated 35,000 units needed to meet demand.</p>
<h2>Interest Rate Impact</h2>
<p>With ECB rates holding steady at 3.5%, mortgage affordability remains a significant hurdle for first-time buyers.</p>
<h2>Regional Disparities</h2>
<p>While Dublin and commuter counties face the most severe affordability challenges, regional cities like Cork and Galway are now seeing similar pressures.</p>
<h2>Forecast</h2>
<p>We predict continued price growth of 5-7% over the next 12 months, with potential moderation if supply improvements can be maintained.</p>
<p><img src="https://financial-blog-content.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/public/images/ie/ie-article-test-article-1-housing-market-forecast-2025/1743276103112-irish_housing_prices_2020_2026.png" alt="irish_housing_prices_2020_2026.png"></p>


Housing Market Forecast 2025

<p>We've all heard it: Get a good job, save diligently, and you'll afford a home someday. But more and more people in Ireland are realising that this advice doesn't hold up anymore. Millennials and Gen Z workers, despite earning decent wages in many cases, find themselves locked out of homeownership. The truth is, if you can't afford a home in Ireland today, it's not because you're failing—it's because the system isn't designed to work for you.</p>
<h2>The Housing Crisis in Numbers</h2>
<p>Ireland's housing market is painfully unaffordable for most people, and the numbers back this up:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Average House Prices</strong>: Irish homes now cost €359,000 nationwide, climbing beyond the reach of even two-income households.</li>
<li><strong>Rents Skyrocket</strong>: Dubliners face average monthly rents exceeding €2,200, creating a vicious cycle where families can barely save.</li>
<li><strong>Demand vs. Supply</strong>: Ireland builds approximately 25,000 homes each year, but the proper demand is over 35,000 annually, with supply continually falling short.</li>
</ul>
<p>With these staggering statistics, one thing is clear: the dream of homeownership has been turned into a nightmare—one engineered by economic and political systems stacked in favour of a wealthy elite.</p>
<p><img src="https://financial-blog-content.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/public/images/ie/why-is-everything-so-expensive-in-ireland/1743257777501-HousingPriceChart.png" alt="HousingPriceChart"></p>
<p><em>Source: Central Statistics Office Ireland (CSO), 2024</em></p>
<p>Looking at housing price trends since 2015, we can see how relentlessly house prices have climbed, with the average national house price increasing by over 75% in just nine years. This rise has far outpaced wage growth, making homeownership increasingly unattainable for ordinary workers.</p>
<p><img src="https://financial-blog-content.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/public/images/ie/why-is-everything-so-expensive-in-ireland/1743257800238-RentalPriceChart.png" alt="RentalPriceChart"></p>
<p><em>Source: Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) and Daft.ie Rental Reports, 2024</em></p>
<p>The rental situation is equally challenging. Dublin rents have nearly doubled since 2015, while the national average has also seen dramatic increases. With such a significant portion of income going toward rent, saving for a deposit becomes nearly impossible for many.</p>
<h2>Why Homes Are Unaffordable</h2>
<p>At the heart of Ireland's housing crisis lies wealthy investors, speculative markets, and decades of inadequate policy. The recipe for unaffordable housing includes the following ingredients:</p>
<h3>1. Landlords and Institutional Investors Dominate the Market</h3>
<p>In Ireland, homes are increasingly treated as money-making investments rather than a basic human need. Institutional investors dominate the market, buying large chunks of housing stock to turn a profit through rent and rising property values. These corporate landlords drive up prices and leave aspiring buyers unable to compete.</p>
<p><img src="https://financial-blog-content.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/public/images/ie/why-is-everything-so-expensive-in-ireland/1743257827566-MarketShareChart.png" alt="MarketShareChart"></p>
<p><em>Source: Central Bank of Ireland, Housing Market Report 2024</em></p>
<p>As illustrated above, investors now control a staggering 37% of the Irish housing market. With this level of investor dominance, ordinary buyers face steep competition from entities with significantly more purchasing power and financial flexibility.</p>
<h3>2. Wealth and Speculation Fuel Soaring Prices</h3>
<p>Wealth inequality amplifies the demand for assets like real estate, pricing everyday people out. Housing becomes not a place to live but a financial asset for the wealthy to grow their portfolios. As speculation takes over, housing prices spiral far beyond average income levels.</p>
<p><img src="https://financial-blog-content.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/public/images/ie/why-is-everything-so-expensive-in-ireland/1743257846859-AffordabilityChart.png" alt="AffordabilityChart"></p>
<p><em>Source: Eurostat and Central Bank of Ireland, 2024</em></p>
<p>Ireland now has one of Europe's worst affordability ratios, with homes costing nearly 8 times the average annual income. International housing experts consider a ratio above 5.0 to be "severely unaffordable." As this comparison shows, Ireland's housing market has become significantly less affordable than many of its European counterparts.</p>
<h3>3. Stagnant Wages Compound the Problem</h3>
<p>Even as house prices climb year after year, wage growth has failed to keep up. For younger people, saving for a deposit while also paying steep rent is next to impossible. Housing costs now consume a much larger share of income than they did for previous generations, leaving thousands trapped in a cycle of renting with no viable path to ownership.</p>
<p><img src="https://financial-blog-content.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/public/images/ie/why-is-everything-so-expensive-in-ireland/1743257865009-GrowthComparisonChart.png" alt="GrowthComparisonChart"></p>
<p><em>Source: Central Statistics Office Ireland and Central Bank of Ireland, 2024</em></p>
<p>The widening gap between wages and housing costs tells the story clearly. While wages have increased by only 31% since 2015, housing prices have surged by 76% during the same period. This growing disparity makes homeownership mathematically impossible for many working Irish citizens.</p>
<h3>4. Limited Government Action</h3>
<p>Despite the glaring issues, policies in Ireland have fallen short of fixing the crisis. Public housing projects are underfunded, and regulations to limit investor control or stabilise rent hikes have been insufficient. Without stronger intervention, the situation continues to worsen.</p>
<p><img src="https://financial-blog-content.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/public/images/ie/why-is-everything-so-expensive-in-ireland/1743257881450-SupplyDemandChart.png" alt="SupplyDemandChart"></p>
<p><em>Source: Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) and Department of Housing, Ireland, 2024</em></p>
<p>The persistent gap between housing supply and demand has fueled this crisis. As this visualization shows, Ireland has consistently built 10,000 fewer homes each year than needed. This chronic undersupply creates a seller's market where prices continue to rise due to competition for limited housing stock.</p>
<h2>What This Means for Families in Ireland</h2>
<p>The effects of unaffordable housing ripple far beyond homeownership. Here's what happens when a basic necessity is too expensive for most:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Financial Insecurity</strong>: Families unable to own homes struggle to save and plan for the future.</li>
<li><strong>Generational Inequality</strong>: Young Irish workers are at risk of never building the wealth older generations took for granted.</li>
<li><strong>Broken Communities</strong>: Expensive housing erodes communities as workers are forced to migrate further from cities or move abroad entirely.</li>
</ul>
<p>This isn't just a personal issue. It's a systemic failure that leaves everyday people paying the price of policies and markets geared toward profit over people.</p>
<h2>What Can Be Done?</h2>
<p>Ireland doesn't have to remain trapped in this cycle of unaffordable housing. Real change starts with addressing the root problem: economic inequality. Here are some solutions to rebalance the scales:</p>
<h3>1. Tax the Wealthy</h3>
<p>Implement progressive property taxes targeting large portfolios owned by institutional investors. This would discourage speculative buying and generate revenue to build affordable housing.</p>
<h3>2. Massively Expand Public Housing</h3>
<p>The government must invest substantially in affordable social housing projects. This would remove dependency on profit-driven private developers, ensuring supply grows in line with public needs.</p>
<h3>3. Close Investor Loopholes</h3>
<p>Introduce stronger restrictions on corporate landlords and limit large-scale purchases by institutional investors. This would stop wealthy groups from dominating the housing market.</p>
<h3>4. Rent Control and Tenant Protections</h3>
<p>Rent caps and stronger tenant rights laws would ensure families aren't displaced by arbitrary rent hikes, creating more balanced housing stability.</p>
<h2>It's Not Your Fault</h2>
<p>If you're struggling to buy a home in Ireland, let this be clear: it is not your fault. The housing market has been hijacked by investment interests and a system designed to enrich the wealthy at the expense of everyone else.</p>
<p>But things can change. By pushing for bold policies, supporting progressive housing reforms, and demanding fairness in the market, ordinary people can reclaim access to affordable homes. Housing is not—and should never be—a luxury. It's time Ireland made it a right for all.</p>
<p>Let's work together to build a fair housing system, so everyone can call Ireland home.</p>


Can't Afford a Home in Ireland? It's Not Your Fault

<h1>The Housing Affordability Crisis: Causes and Solutions</h1>
<h2>The Growing Problem</h2>
<p>Ireland's housing crisis has reached unprecedented levels. With home prices rising 71% faster than wages over the past decade, a generation finds itself priced out of home ownership. This article examines the systemic causes of the crisis and offers potential policy solutions.</p>
<h2>Key Statistics</h2>
<ul>
<li>The average house price in Dublin has increased by <strong>94%</strong> since 2013</li>
<li>Nationwide, prices have risen by <strong>76%</strong> in the same period</li>
<li>Average wages have grown by only <strong>19%</strong></li>
<li>Rental costs now consume an average of <strong>47%</strong> of take-home pay for tenants</li>
</ul>
<h2>Driving Factors Behind the Crisis</h2>
<h3>1. Investor Dominance</h3>
<p>Institutional investors and large-scale landlords now control approximately 36% of the housing market. These entities have the capital to outbid individual buyers, driving up prices and converting potential owner-occupied homes into rental properties. The financialisation of housing has transformed homes from places to live into investment assets.</p>
<h3>2. Supply Constraints</h3>
<p>Despite growing demand, housing construction has consistently fallen short:</p>
<ul>
<li>Current annual construction: ~25,000 units</li>
<li>Estimated annual need: 35,000–40,000 units</li>
<li>Cumulative shortfall (last 10 years): >100,000 homes</li>
</ul>
<p>Planning delays, high construction costs, and land hoarding have all contributed to this persistent undersupply.</p>
<h3>3. Demographic Pressures</h3>
<p>Population growth, shrinking household sizes, and migration patterns have increased housing demand:</p>
<ul>
<li>Population has grown by 12% since 2010</li>
<li>Average household size has decreased from 2.9 to 2.6 people</li>
<li>Urban centres have seen accelerated population growth</li>
</ul>
<h2>Policy Solutions</h2>
<p>Addressing Ireland's housing crisis requires multi-faceted intervention:</p>
<h3>1. Land Value Taxation</h3>
<p>Implementing progressive taxation on land holdings would discourage speculation and encourage development, making more land available for housing.</p>
<h3>2. Public Housing at Scale</h3>
<p>The state must return to building public housing directly, rather than relying solely on private developers. Countries like Austria and Singapore have demonstrated that public housing can be high-quality, desirable, and economically sustainable.</p>
<h3>3. Regulation of Investment</h3>
<p>Limiting bulk property purchases by institutional investors and implementing rent controls would help rebalance the market towards individuals seeking homes rather than investment returns.</p>
<h3>4. Renovation and Densification</h3>
<p>Ireland has thousands of vacant properties and underutilised urban spaces. Targeted incentives for renovation and penalties for leaving properties vacant could quickly increase housing stock.</p>
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
<p>The housing affordability crisis isn't inevitable—it is the result of policy choices that have prioritised property as an investment over housing as a home. With coordinated policy intervention and a fundamental shift in how we view housing, Ireland can create a more equitable housing system that serves the needs of its people rather than treating homes as financial assets.</p>
<p>The path forward requires political courage, but the social and economic costs of continuing the current trajectory are simply too high to ignore.</p>
<p><img src="https://financial-blog-content.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/public/images/ie/ie-article-housing-crisis/1743276241840-irish_housing_prices_2020_2026.png" alt="irish_housing_prices_2020_2026.png"></p>


Cost of LivingIreland

Housing & Property

Why Building More Homes in Ireland Won’t Fix the Housing Crisis

Irish Housing Market Forecast for 2025-2026: A System Disadvantaging the Many

Housing Market Forecast 2025

Can't Afford a Home in Ireland? It's Not Your Fault

The Housing Affordability Crisis: Causes and Solutions