Foreword: Promising signs…

Welcome to the 10th edition of Housing Ireland Magazine. Over the decade in which we have produced this annual publication, housing has evolved into arguably the single most important political and policy issue in the State.

Over that time, we have had the privilege of getting to know people across the sector, and there can be no doubt that thousands of people are deeply committed to addressing Ireland’s housing crisis.

2025 brought a new Minister for Housing and a new national housing plan. So far, 2026 has brought some encouraging indicators. Housing output has strengthened, construction activity has accelerated, planning reform is progressing, there is a renewed focus on apartment delivery, and residential property price inflation has moderated.

In June 2026, annual residential property price growth fell to 5.6 per cent, its lowest rate since January 2024. While affordability pressures remain acute, this represents a notable shift in a market characterised by persistent supply constraints.

The Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025-2030 plan has been criticised for moving away from annual delivery targets. However, alongside the establishment of the Housing Activation Office and a greater focus on unlocking infrastructure constraints, some initial indicators are encouraging.

There were 36,284 new dwellings completed in 2025, up 20.4 per cent on 2024 and the highest annual level since the CSO’s series began in 2011. This momentum has continued into 2026, with 7,856 new dwellings completed in Q1, a 32.9 per cent increase on Q1 2025 and the highest first-quarter total recorded.

Construction activity has also accelerated significantly. Some 13,120 commencement notices were recorded between January and May 2026, a 161 per cent increase on the 5,033 recorded during the same period in 2025. While commencement notices are not equivalent to completed homes, they provide an important indicator of activity further along the delivery pipeline.

As reflected in our cover story with Clúid CEO Averil Power, there is a strong determination across the sector that new homes, across both the social and private sectors, are affordable, fit for purpose over the long term and aligned with Ireland’s climate and energy objectives. Hosted by Bord Gáis Energy, our round table discussion also explores the skills capacity required to meet the State’s housing ambitions.

Unfortunately, 2026 marks the third consecutive year in which an issue of this publication has gone to print with an article entitled ‘record homelessness’. Despite strong economic growth and record employment, the long-term, trajectory of homelessness has continued upwards since official reporting began in 2014. Temporary reductions during the pandemic and periods of eviction restriction have not reversed the underlying trend. By July 2026, 17,527 people were recorded as living in emergency accommodation.

The statistics therefore provide both reason for optimism and a reminder of the scale of the challenge. Increasing supply remains essential, but the housing system must also deliver homes that are affordable, well located, energy efficient, and appropriate to the needs of a growing population.

I want to thank everyone who played their part in putting this publication together and, on behalf of my predecessors, thank you for the relationships and contributions that have allowed this vital publication to flourish over the last decade.

We must remain optimistic that, if we all continue to play our part, the term ‘housing crisis’ will eventually be consigned to the dustbin of history.

Joshua Murray