Key Takeaways Main Point Why It Matters HBFI increased loan approvals in 2025 Positive progress, but still limited in scale SME builders still find it hard to get capital They are crucial to increasing housing supply €200m extra funding is insufficient It does not change housing supply behaviour at the national level The Apple tax […]
Key Takeaways Issue What It Reveals Renters with pets face extreme housing discrimination Severe housing scarcity, not tenant behaviour “No pets” clauses dominate the rental market Power imbalance caused by undersupply of homes Regulating landlords won’t fix the issue Lack of Supply is the real problem State-supported housing can lead by example The State can
KEY TAKEAWAYS WHAT IT MEANS Home sales fell by 8% in 2025 Fewer people can buy, not because demand has gone down, but just because prices are too damn high Prices rose 5% in 2025 Confirms a structural housing shortage, rather than a cooling market Private supply alone cannot fix this Developers respond to profit,
In January 2026, the Minister for Further and Higher Education, James Lawless, signalled that he is exploring ways to reduce some construction apprenticeships from 4 to 3 years. Irish Times. The proposal outlined by the minister has been referred to Solas and Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) to examine whether parts of training programmes can
Ireland’s housing crisis has produced a growing number of alternative pathways to homeownership. One of the most talked-about in recent months is the Rent-to-Own (or Rent-Now, Buy-Later) model, recently popularised by private platforms such as Homely. The idea is rather simple – instead of renting indefinitely while saving and waiting for mortgage approval, households rent
Key Takeaways Item What’s Happening Why It Matters Apartment construction is rising Large developers can deliver thousands of urban apartments now Momentum is real, but uneven Market power is concentrated A few PLC developers dominate delivery Fragile system, low resilience SME builders are still locked out Finance and planning barriers persist Rural and small-town shortages
Cairn Enjoys Apartment Building Boom – Why Small Builders Matter Too. Read More »
Recent headlines from the Irish Times have pointed to a sharp increase in housing starts in Ireland, with Government figures showing that housing commencements doubled towards the end of 2025 (Irish Times) On the surface, this sounds a lot like progress. Given that many readers are likely to look only at headlines (I’m guilty too),
Last week, Sandford Living Ltd (a subsidiary of Ardstone), proposed selling a 3-bed apartment to Dublin City Council for €1.03 million as part of a social housing obligation in Dublin 6. Breaking News. While the headline alone may stir up strong negative emotions (it certainly did for me), we need to understand the broader issue
What Is a Panelised Construction System? A panelised construction system is a modern method of building where large, flat components called panels, are manufactured off-site in a factory and then transported to site for assembly. These panels typically form the walls, floors, and roofs of a building and are designed to be self-supporting once installed.
What is a Panelised System in Construction? Read More »
A leaking roof is one of those problems homeowners hope will “sort itself out”. Unfortunately, it never does. I learned the hard way after hearing dripping in my ceiling during the holidays and got left with a costly bill. In Ireland’s wet and windy climate, especially in the west coast, even a small roof leak
Roof Leak Repair Costs in Ireland (2026 Guide). Read More »