The government’s blind trust in the idea that the market will deliver adequate housing for Ireland has led to its failure to provide for those in need of a home, according to Social Democrats housing spokesperson Rory Hearne.
Deputy Hearne said:
“Today’s report by Property Industry Ireland shows that the government has bought into the myth that the market alone will deliver adequate housing stock to overcome our crushing deficit – without the tens of thousands of additional construction workers needed to reach its targets.
“The government’s approach to housing policy is exemplified by this delusional notion – without a pathway to almost doubling our construction workforce, the delivery of homes and infrastructure will continue to fall far short of what is needed to tackle the housing crisis.
“PII’s report points to fragmentation in the construction industry as a huge challenge to increasing the workforce so it can deliver what’s needed – small contractors, subcontractors and firms don’t have the capacity or resources to provide training for a large volume of apprentices.
“The government’s plan of ‘the market will provide’ is not compatible with such an extreme labour deficit – this catastrophic approach will never make a dent in the housing emergency in which we find ourselves.
“Combined with the rest of the government’s approach to housing, which gives endless tax cuts to institutional investors and vulture funds with no affordability clause or evidence it will increase supply, Ireland’s housing outlook continues to approach dystopian conditions for renters and those desperate to own a home.
“From this Sunday, the government’s disastrous new rental measures will ensure even more people are priced out of renting a home – Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are failing on all fronts.
“It’s time for the State to open its eyes to evidence-led solutions, step up and intervene – the Social Democrats’ state construction company would operate alongside existing market delivery of housing, playing a significant role in providing more affordable and social homes.
“It would also provide better construction career prospects, the dearth of which is a key barrier to the delivery of housing – a state construction company offering decent apprenticeships, quality permanent employment and fair benefits would help build up the labour force needed to take the housing crisis in hand by attracting workers from abroad and those at home.
“A public construction company would give the scores of workers emigrating from Ireland secure employment and reason to stay – in combination with a focus on modern methods of construction, such as modular homes factories, a policy shift towards state-led housing delivery will go a long way to countering our housing woes.”
February 26th, 2026