Ireland

Key voices in Ireland championing action on the housing crisis and the creation of affordable, sustainable homes in cities include the Irish Government, notably the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Organisations like Respond, Social Justice Ireland, Focus Housing Association, Co-operative Housing Ireland, and the Housing Finance Agency also view rapid progress in public, social, and cost-rental housing as central priorities. The European Investment Bank is a significant funder for affordable housing projects, and local authorities (such as Dublin City Council and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown) play leadership roles in housing initiatives and pilot programs.

From academia, leading collaboration partners could include researchers from Maynooth University and University College Dublin, who have a strong record in housing economics and planning. In the real estate sector, productive engagement is possible with major developers like Glenveagh Properties and Cairn Homes, both of which control large portions of city land and have announced significant build programs. From the startup sector, technology and construction innovation companies, especially those focused on modular housing or sustainability, are increasingly visible at housing summits.

Among NGOs, Social Justice Ireland, Respond, Focus Ireland, and Co-operative Housing Ireland are particularly influential and leading advocates for housing rights and practical delivery of homes for low-income and marginalized groups. Collaboration across these sectors—government, academia, property, startups, and NGOs—is essential for meaningful and lasting solutions to the housing crisis.

Ireland’s housing crisis is marked by severe shortages and escalating costs, touching nearly every segment of society. Home prices nationally have reached €370,000, with some areas in Dublin exceeding €770,000, representing an 8% annual increase. Rents have surged faster than ever recorded—nationwide monthly rents average over €2,050, while in cities like Dublin and Limerick, averages now exceed €2,500 and €2,400, respectively. The supply of new homes cannot meet demand: in 2025, only about 33,000 new homes are expected to be built, far short of the estimated 52,000 needed each year.

The housing shortfall ranges from 213,000 to 256,000 units, compounded by around 80,000 vacant properties nationwide and nearly 20,000 derelict buildings, many in urban centers. Homelessness has reached unprecedented levels: over 14,500 people are officially homeless, and more than half a million people either lack adequate housing or are struggling to meet housing costs. Those most affected include low-income families, young adults, students, migrants, and the elderly, with rising numbers of young people remaining in the parental home or leaving the country to escape unaffordable rents.

The crisis is causing immense strain—one third of the population are considering emigration, and nearly 20% struggle to pay for housing, while another third are barely coping. Social exclusion, postponed life milestones, and negative health and well-being impacts are disproportionately experienced by those at the margins.

Ireland’s housing market in 2025 is marked by rapid price growth alongside high demand and a persistent shortage of supply. National homeownership stands at 61%, while 24% rent privately, and a further 7% pay rent to family or friends. In Dublin, homeownership is notably lower, with renting levels around 45%. Median listed home prices nationwide have reached €357,851, or approximately €5,500 per sqm, and in Dublin, the figure is closer to €7,000 per sqm. Median monthly rent across the country averages €2,053, or around €29 per sqm, with Dublin rents typically higher, around €2,540 monthly and €36 per sqm.

Publicly owned housing, predominantly referred to as social housing, is essential for lower-income households and is provided by local authorities or housing associations. Social housing now also includes homes leased from private landlords under schemes that let the state claim higher delivery rates with reduced capital investment. Public housing refers strictly to homes owned and rented by the state, which are open to a broader demographic, whereas social housing focuses mainly on supporting those who cannot afford market housing. The share of publicly owned or social housing is modest—about 9% of households—but demand far exceeds supply, with tens of thousands on waiting lists, making expansion a prominent policy issue.

The Irish government’s current approach to affordable and sustainable housing prioritizes expanding supply, improving affordability, and boosting public housing provision. Key communicated targets include building 303,000 new homes by 2030, with an incremental annual increase starting from 41,000 homes in 2025 and rising to 60,000 homes by 2030. These targets are underpinned by a multi-year funding commitment and revised planning frameworks designed to match population and employment growth.

Concrete national programs and activities include:

• Launch of a new all-of-government housing plan to succeed "Housing for All," featuring long-term funding and policy stability.
• A Towns and Cities Infrastructure Investment Fund focused on enabling residential development through upgraded infrastructure.
• Expansion and enhanced powers of the Land Development Agency to accelerate public housing and mixed tenure projects.
• The Help to Buy and First Home schemes, now extended to 2030, to support first-time buyers and low-income households.
• Programmed delivery of an average 12,000 new social homes annually.
• Continuing and expanding the Vacant Homes Action Plan for bringing vacant and derelict properties back into use.
• Planned regulatory reforms to increase zoning, fast-track planning, incentivize sustainable construction, and achieve rental cost stability.

Despite these programs and ambitious targets, delivery lags behind projected needs due to capacity constraints and a reliance on private investment, making implementation and impact the subject of ongoing public and political scrutiny.

Housing cooperatives in Ireland play a modest but distinctive role in the national housing landscape. Co-operative Housing Ireland, the sector’s principal body, manages just over 6,000 homes—about 0.3% of the country’s total housing stock—while its total delivery since 1973 is over 9,000 homes. Cooperative housing remains a small fraction compared to social, public, and private housing, but interest is growing due to affordability pressures, notably among students and middle-income earners. The model offers resident-led, democratically managed alternatives, often focusing on long-term affordability and community stability.

Recent years have seen gradual expansion, with new schemes being supported by increased government investment. The sector has benefited from government initiatives such as the Affordable Housing Fund, targeted grants, and specific recognition in successive national housing strategies. However, despite dedicated funding—including an additional €696 million for 2025—and supportive planning policies, cooperative housing still accounts for a minimal share of new completions.

Current dynamics show increased policy and funding support but continued limited scale, especially in light of Ireland’s acute housing shortage. While the government names cooperatives as potential contributors to housing supply and social cohesion, barriers remain, such as competition with larger entities for land, scale, and institutional support. Cooperative models are, however, viewed increasingly as viable pathways for affordable, sustainable housing, particularly in response to stalled delivery in other sectors.