An Open Letter to Irish Policymakers on Rising Fuel Prices, Construction costs & Housing Stability.
I write this letter not just as the founder of MyLittleHome.ie, but also as a concerned resident of over 15 years in a country that I believe has the single greatest potential within the EU to resolve its 2 most pressing crises in one single attack – and in a way that sets it up as a shining example to all other Western nations watching.
I will be honest from the outset.
I have no practical experience in construction, economics, politics, finance, social services, or any other industry that is closely linked to housing. I am just a resident who is deeply affected by both the fuel crisis and the current state of the housing crisis in Ireland, and wondering why not enough bold steps are being taken by Government despite Ireland having seemingly immense resources at this time.
In the last 2 years, everything I have learned about the housing situation in Ireland has come from continuous reading, learning and ongoing curiosity and research.
So yes, you would be absolutely right to say that:
- I am green
- I am wholly unqualified to offer any potential solutions to this crisis
- I do not have the slightest clue as to how things actually work in housing politics and the broader Irish housing industry.
While I agree to all of the above, I am also willing to assert that my desire to continue learning and understanding knows no bounds.
My fervent hope is that my work will eventually reach relevant industry experts, economists and politicians who can piggyback off these ideas, improve them and use them to make real policies that will resolve both the fuel and most importantly, the housing crisis.
This website, My Little Home, has taken many forms since its realisation in September 2023.
Right now, My Little Home is a housing research website whose primary aim is to advocate for Government to be bolder and smarter in solving the housing crisis – by intentionally and strategically using the 14BN Apple Tax portion of its National Development Plan.
I have written several blog posts in this regard, in the hopes that people who are much better at this kind of stuff than I am, would build upon this idea and eventually make a strong case in the Oireachtas. That hasn’t happened yet, but I believe now more than ever that this is very important.
Much of my earlier advocacy was driven by frustration at rising prices, low housing supply, and what often felt like half-measures by the government in response to a crippling national problem. This frustration also extended to the fuel crisis, which is currently affecting the entire nation.
But over time, I realised that frustration alone will not solve the housing crisis. Even worse, frustration alone does very little to move the hearts of those who are in a real position to do anything about it.
But with the advent of the fuel crisis, I have opted to take a different approach by writing this open letter.
So here it goes.
Dear Members of Government, the Oireachtas and Relevant Policy Makers,
A Once-in-a-Generation Opportunity to Fix the Housing Crisis And Secure Your Political Legacy.
As we are all painfully aware, the housing crisis is a compounding reality over the last decade that continues to shape the lives, decisions, and frustrations of both ourselves and our loved ones.
Many of you reading this surely know someone who is dealing with the direct effects of the housing crisis in any of the following ways:
- A student priced out of accommodations due to scarcity
- Working adults who are simply unable to afford both rent and homes close to their jobs.
- Young adults who are increasingly forced to delay starting families due to the high cost of… everything.
- Close family members who have been forced to emigrate just to have a fighting chance at life
- A child, family or friend who is sleeping rough, or forced to live in a violent situation due to housing scarcity
- Older residents, renters and home-owners looking to downsize but having to do so without dignity
- Small landlords who are seemingly being punished by new state regulations for being small landlords
- Small & Medium Sized Builders (who I believe are the lifeblood to resolving this crisis), who are finding it difficult to secure finance and provide much needed homes during this climate
I could keep going on, but you get the idea.
The housing crisis affects every one of us deeply, and the scars will affect generations to come.
In addition to low housing supply, various global developments in the last 6 years continue to impact the average Irish resident daily.
- COVID-19 really messed up global supply chains and was a major trigger for the high inflation that followed.
- COVID-19 also served as an indirect player in the increasing levels of homelessness after 2020 – due to high pent-up demand, low supply of affordable houses, high net migration, high rents, high prices of building materials and a series of rebound government policies after the pandemic.
- The Russian invasion of Ukraine also raised food and energy prices to levels not seen in decades
- The Israeli Genocide on the people of Gaza, and the crises in Sudan, Yemen, the DRC, Syria, etc., hold a mirror to our faces that continues to expose our selective compassion as both individuals and systems
- The US-Israeli-led war on Iran and its current impact on fuel prices (made worse by the high carbon, excise and value-added taxes on fuel)
Right now, we are all just waiting for the next global development that will continue to make daily living worse. Add this to the current housing crisis, and you will clearly see that despair for the average Irish resident since 2008 is at an all-time high.
This is also to say that it is both unfair and unrealistic to blame you (government officials and policy makers) for all the issues affecting Irish residents today.
However, there is clear evidence that various decisions made by subsequent cabinets since 2009 greatly contributed to the housing crisis that we are all experiencing today.
These include, but are not limited to:
- A dramatic reduction in social and public housing investment as part of austerity measures after the 2008 housing crisis.
2. The replacement of direct state building with HAP, Rent supplements and various private market incentives.
I believe that though well-intended at the time, this over-reliance on the private market, as well as institutional investors to provide affordable housing, was bound to make housing unaffordable in the future.
3. The possible underuse of NAMA. And while I believe that what NAMA achieved during its lifetime is almost miraculous, there was, and there still is, an opportunity for the government to identify and convert thousands of qualifying distressed properties into public housing.
4. A seemingly inflexible planning system that does not meet the needs of rising demand.
While I fully acknowledge that it is easier for me to mention these situations in hindsight, I would also like to acknowledge my limited knowledge and experience in the complex affairs of public policy, finance, housing and expenditure.
But without wasting much of your time, let me briefly explain why I firmly believe that the 14BN Apple Tax windfall is the most powerful political golden goose right now.
DISCLAIMER
Before I move on, I want to be equally transparent about one more thing.
In trying to better understand complex affairs such as housing, energy and public finance, I have not relied on my own thinking and research alone. I have also used Large Language Models (LLMs) to help me organise, challenge, and refine some of the ideas that emerged from my research.
I say this openly because I believe it reflects something broader about the world we now live in; that even ordinary residents like myself now have access to social media and other tools that allow them to engage, however imperfectly, with complex national issues.
What matters to me is not where an idea is refined, but whether it can stand up to scrutiny at a high level, and whether it can genuinely improve the lives of people in Ireland.
3 Reasons Why the 14BN Apple Tax Portion of the National Development Plan (NDP) is the Key to Resolving both the Fuel and Housing Crises.
- THE APPLE TAX WINDFALL IS A RARE, NON-RECURRING FINANCIAL OPPORTUNITY.
To me, this is the most important point. I have mentioned this in several previous articles, and I will continue to do so until it is considered in decision-making rooms.
The €14bn Apple tax windfall, which was finally collected in full by the Irish Government in July 2025, is a once-off, non-recurring amount of money.
- It was money that was owed to the Irish State since 2016 by a multinational corporation, Apple Inc.
- This tax was not paid or borne by the common taxpayer; so this fund could be used as an incredible PR tool to help you score much-needed political points with the Irish Public while helping them at the same time.
- The Apple Tax is not a foreign loan, so there are no state obligations or strings attached to a foreign lender.
The above reasons are precisely why the Apple Tax should be allocated specifically to resolve both the fuel and housing emergencies right now, rather than being stored away in the well-intentioned but non-urgent National Development Plan (NDP), where the money now sits.
So to all policy makers, I believe that the 14bn Apple tax portion of the NDP presents you with a once-in-a-generation opportunity to act decisively, responsibly, and in a way that is both economically sound and politically rewarding.
If this windfall is treated as just another addition to public expenditure, its importance can become diluted, misunderstood, or worse, forgotten!
So please, do not let this unique opportunity pass you by.
2. A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY FOR IRELAND TO BE AN EXAMPLE FOR OTHER WORLD LEADERS TO FOLLOW.
If the Apple tax windfall is used intentionally and strategically for what it truly is, an exceptional, temporary, and non-recurring buffer, then it opens the door for you to act boldly, while also being ‘fiscally responsible‘.
Here is what I mean:
- Using the Apple Tax windfall specifically to resolve the housing and fuel crises builds credibility with voters, who will deeply appreciate that the cost of fixing these crises is borne by a corporation and not the taxpayer specifically
- It allows you to help people immediately, without committing to long-term NDP spending obligations that may not actually be sustainable.
- By focusing mainly on fuel cost reliefs, you could limit the impact of inflation, stay within EU fiscal rules and maintain investor confidence
Perhaps most importantly, using the Apple tax intentionally and strategically allows you to communicate a clear and disciplined message to the Irish public and international observers that:
- A small and beloved nation such as Ireland can respond to crises precisely and without panic.
- Ireland can deploy resources where they are needed most, without destabilising its economy.
- Ireland’s leaders deeply understand the urgent needs of today, as well as the risks of tomorrow.
If done correctly, I believe that the Irish Government can send all of the above signals at once, and do so in a way that is immediately visible to the people you serve.
3. KILL 2 MASSIVE BIRDS WITH 1 STONE.
The housing crisis and the fuel crisis are very deeply interconnected.
- Rising petrol, kerosene and diesel prices increase the cost of building materials, transportation, and labour.
- Those increased prices are transferred into housing prices and rents
- And when that happens or if projects stop because of this, this tightens housing supply even further.
This brings us back to where we started.
So addressing fuel pressures is not just a cost-of-living measure. It is, in many ways, a housing policy.
So if the government reduces fuel pressure for households (like it did in 2022 with energy) and key sectors, that will help greatly to stabilise housing delivery and costs of living.
There is no better tool to tackle these right now than the Apple tax windfall.
How the Irish Government Can Allocate its Apple Tax Windfall To Resolve the Fuel Crisis & Put a Massive Dent in the Housing Crisis.
Now, this is the part that has been the most difficult for me to address, due to my lack of practical experience in public policy in Ireland.
What follows is not a perfect plan, but an attempt based on my own research and observation to show that this €14 billion windfall can be deployed in a way that is both targeted and impactful.
Not everything below will be right.
However, I hope that my suggestions would catch the eyes of politicians, think-tanks and industry experts who can expand on the value I am trying to present below.
Suggested Allocation of the €14BN Apple Tax Windfall at a Glance (2026-2030)
| Policy Area | Suggested Allocation (€BN) | Intended Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Targeted Fuel Relief (Households & Sectors) | 2 | – Immediate cost-of-living relief – Stabilises supply chains for a while |
| ‘Construction Cost Stabilisation’ Fund | 1 | Prevents critical project delays and cancellations |
| Accelerated State-Led Housing Delivery | 5 | – Improve Planning system – Direct increase in housing supply |
| SME Builder Activation & Financing Support | 1.0 | Fund HBFI to Unlock SME builders |
| Targeted Cost-of-Living Supports | 0.5 | Protects vulnerable individuals and households |
| Infrastructure & Land Activation | 0.5 | Unlocks land for development |
| State-Led Vacant & Derelict Property Activation | 0.3 | Rapid reuse of existing housing stock |
| Total | 10.3 | |
| 3.7BN left over |
1. Targeted Fuel Relief for Households and Key Sectors – Approx 2BN
- Just like in 2022, when the Russian Invasion of Ukraine happened, provide a once-off fuel credit to qualifying households to ease immediate pressure. The 250m support announced in March 2026 is not enough.
- Introduce temporary fuel rebates for essential sectors such as transport, agriculture, and construction.
The intention here is to reduce the cost of living quickly while making sure that any future increases in fuel prices, due to the US-Israeli-led war on Iran, do not continue to spread across the wider Irish economy.
2. A form of ‘Construction Cost Stabilisation‘ Fund – Approx 1 BN
The Construction Industry Federation (CIF) already warned that critical residential housing projects are stalling because materials cannot be transported. In this light, the government could consider:
- Establishing a temporary support fund to offset fuel and energy-related increases in construction.
This could help prevent avoidable delays in much-needed housing delivery.
3. Accelerated State-Led Housing Delivery – Approx 5BN
- This amount of 5BN could be used as seed-funding for the state to seriously begin delivering public housing directly.
- Prioritise fast-track delivery methods, including modular, timberframe and other MMC approaches.
- Identify and plug gaps in the current planning system, and ensure that councils have the staff and resources they need
4. SME Builder Activation & Financing Support – Approx 1 BN
- Increase funding for the HBFI, which provides financing for SME builders since conventional banks have made it difficult for them to get loans since 2008
- Provide short-term liquidity support for SMEs to deal with fuel costs.
If large developers slow down, it is often SMEs who can step in, but only if they are properly supported.
5. Targeted Cost-of-Living Supports – 500m
- Deliver once-off payments to lower- and middle-income households mostly affected by rising costs; families or individuals with kids, unemployed, homeless, domestic violence victims, etc.
- Expand temporary energy supports for other vulnerable groups.
6. Public Infrastructure & Land Activation – 500m
- Invest in critical infrastructure such as Uisce Eireann’s National Leakage Reduction Programme, electricity, and transport to unlock land for development.
- Allocate some money to the Land Development Agency to better support local authorities in preparing build-ready sites.
7. State-Led Vacant & Derelict Property Activation – 300m
- Provide funding to local councils and empower them to buy qualifying vacant & easily-restorable derelict buildings from willing sellers (Ireland has over 80,000 vacant properties as of 2025)
- Directly contract local SMEs to help restore these vacant & derelict homes
- Allow local councils to own these vacant buildings and add them to the social housing stock
This is one of the fastest ways to increase supply without waiting years for new developments, as any income from the houses can be reinvested in public housing stock.
Final Words
Again, I would like to stress that this is not about getting the numbers right. I just want to show that maybe, just maybe, there is another path that can be taken to resolve the fuel and housing crisis in a way that benefits policy makers, investors and most importantly, the greater Irish public. All at once.
- A way that provides immediate relief and protects housing supply, without committing the State to long-term spending that could become unsustainable.
- A way that shows the Irish public that decisive action is not only possible, but well within reach.
I believe that these targeted, temporary targets are more focused and can be directed towards the people who need them most.
Of course, things do get unpredictable, so these targets can be scaled up or down as conditions change. And for those in office who have to make the tough decisions, these targets and the fact that they are funded by the Apple Tax windfall are far easier to defend both economically and politically.
Finally, the idea that a 14bn Apple Tax windfall from a multinational tax case can be returned in a meaningful way to the people of Ireland does send a strong and lasting message to the people of Ireland.
It says that you DO give a damn.
We can all agree that this is a message that is simple, powerful, and difficult to dismiss. And it is one that, if executed well, can resonate far beyond a single term in office.
So I beg of you, do the right thing.
Respectfully,
Derrick Fotar
Founder, MyLittleHome.ie
