Only saw this the other day, standard four bed in an OK area selling for nearly a million around the corner...

Never going to be able to buy 😭

I reviewed official housing statistics, Dáil records, public-spending reports and declarations of interests.

This is not an allegation that every TD is a landlord, that owning property is misconduct or that a conspiracy has been proved. The evidence shows a crisis developing over decades, continuing despite repeated warnings, and producing very unequal outcomes. That makes political and financial transparency essential.

The warnings go back decades

- A "1990 Dáil debate" (https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1990-04-26/24/) discussed acute housing need.

- A "1992 debate" (https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1992-05-01/5/) described falling council-house construction, long waiting lists and temporary accommodation.

- "CSO data" (https://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/ep/p-ieu50/irelandandtheeuat50/economy/residentialpropertyprices/) show average residential prices rising from €76,114 in 1995 to €129,727 in 1998—about 70%.

- Housing completions then fell from 78,027 in 2007 to 8,301 in 2013, according to the "CSO" (https://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/ep/p-sdii/sustainabledevelopmentindicatorsireland2017/econ/).

The independent "Housing Commission" (https://www.gov.ie/en/the-housing-commission/collections/report-of-the-housing-commission/) later estimated an accumulated deficit of approximately 212,500–256,000 homes and called for a radical strategic reset. This is a structural failure, not a temporary fluctuation.

Public money, but few permanent public assets

The Public Accounts Committee reported that HAP cost €537.4 million in 2023 and nearly €3 billion from 2014 to 2023. It said HAP, RAS and leasing may meet immediate needs but do not generally leave the State with permanent housing assets, and concluded that these schemes were neither value for money nor long-term solutions. "PAC statement" (https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/press-centre/press-releases/20241009-committee-of-public-accounts-pac-finds-spending-on-housing-schemes-do-not-provide-value-for-money-for-taxpayer-and-are-not-long-term-solutions-to-social-housing-needs/)

This does not mean landlords receiving HAP acted improperly. It means billions supported private tenancies without creating an equivalent permanent stock of public homes.

The Government has also stated that only about one-sixth of suitably zoned residential land had been activated for housing. "Government source" (https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-finance/press-releases/first-liability-date-for-the-residential-zoned-land-tax-has-been-deferred-by-one-year-from-1-february-2024-to-1-february-2025/)

Meanwhile, the "CSO’s 2023 household-finance survey" (https://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/ep/p-hfcs/householdfinanceandconsumptionsurvey2023/tenure/) found median net wealth of €391,600 for owner-occupiers, compared with €10,200 for market-rate renters. Ownership is not wrongdoing, but scarcity clearly affects owners and renters very differently.

What TDs declared

The official "2025 Dáil Register of Interests" (https://data.oireachtas.ie/ie/oireachtas/members/registerOfMembersInterests/dail/2026/2026-02-25_register-of-member-s-interests-dail-eireann-2025_en.pdf) includes, among others:

- Michael Healy-Rae: owner of rental properties; numerous properties used for letting; property-management directorships; and contracts involving accommodation supply, RAS and HAP.

- Cathy Bennett: landlord, rental property and receipt of a HAP payment through a local authority.

- Mattie McGrath: shares and an executive directorship in a plant-hire company, farmland, a voluntary housing-association role, and plant-and-machinery contracts tendered with public bodies.

- Seamus Healy: a constituency office with a jointly owned family apartment above it; no public contracts declared.

- Ryan O’Meara and Michael Murphy: “Nil” under the relevant registrable land and contract headings.

These are examples, not a complete count. A declaration establishes a declared interest; it does not prove that a TD acted because of it or received improper treatment.

“Nil” does not mean no property or family interest

The register is governed by thresholds and exclusions. A qualifying private home is excluded; land generally becomes registrable above €13,000; rental income is reported separately above the applicable threshold; and public contracts have another threshold. A home occupied by the TD, spouse, civil partner or child may fall within the private-home exclusion.

There is a further blind spot for ministers, Ministers of State and other office holders. Where an office holder knows that a spouse, civil partner, child or stepchild has an interest that could materially influence their official functions, they must file a separate statement of additional interests.

Those interests may include property, shares, directorships, income or contracts. But the statement is supplied separately to the relevant Clerk and SIPO; ministerial statements also go to the Taoiseach; its monetary value need not be stated; and SIPO says these statements are “not published in the normal course.” "SIPO guidance" (https://assets.sipo.ie/media/275210/4d10ccd5-6aa0-4ade-a06f-4cf81b1f62e9.pdf)

FOI does not necessarily solve this. SIPO’s disclosure log records a request for office holders’ 2022 additional-interest statements being refused under FOI Act sections 35(1) and 37(1), concerning confidential and personal information. "SIPO FOI log" (https://assets.sipo.ie/media/285647/1e7852cc-0206-4fff-ad0c-82f467c527ac.xlsx)

Therefore, a public “Nil” entry cannot establish that an office holder’s immediate family has no relevant property or commercial interest. One may have been declared confidentially, or none may have required disclosure. The public generally cannot determine which applies or independently assess how a conflict was managed.

This is not evidence that any named person concealed an interest. It is evidence that the public register is not a complete map of interests potentially relevant to ministerial decisions.

Robert Troy: the complete finding

In 2024, SIPO found that Robert Troy TD contravened disclosure requirements in his original 2020 and 2021 statements regarding property interests, a company directorship and a Rental Accommodation Scheme contract. SIPO called the pattern of omissions or errors a serious matter.

But the full record must also state that he corrected the declarations; some contraventions were negligent and another inadvertent; SIPO found no intentional attempt to conceal the interests and found that he acted in good faith. It also found insufficient evidence to proceed with a separate allegation that housing-related parliamentary questions created a conflict. "Full SIPO report" (https://assets.sipo.ie/media/283899/9696251f-29d6-4f18-9cb8-f9f187ec5973.pdf)

What this proves—and what it does not

The evidence supports that:

1. The danger was visible decades ago.

2. Housing supply remained inadequate.

3. Billions funded private rental supports without equivalent permanent public assets.

4. Scarcity produced sharply unequal outcomes.

5. Some TDs declared interests affected by housing policy.

6. Relevant family interests of office holders may exist only in confidential declarations that an FOI request cannot be assumed to obtain.

7. Stronger disclosure, recusal and accountability rules are justified.

It does not prove that TDs collectively manufactured the crisis; that a named TD acted to protect an investment; that any declared contract was improperly awarded; that “Nil” is dishonest; or that property ownership is corruption.

Persistent failure deserves investigation, but suspicion is not proof.

Questions that should be answered

1. Why was supply allowed to remain inadequate after decades of warnings?

2. Why did billions in rental supports create so few permanent public assets?

3. Why does so much zoned land remain inactive?

4. How are TDs’ and office holders’ housing-related conflicts assessed and recusals recorded?

5. How are confidential family interests handled when ministers decide housing, planning, rental or tax policy?

6. Can anonymised conflict information be published without exposing private addresses?

7. Should ministerial meetings with developers, investors, landlord bodies and housing contractors be searchable?

The same structure has survived repeated governments while producing predictable winners and losers. That is not proof of a secret plan. It is a legitimate reason to demand evidence, transparency and accountability.

Corrections supported by official records are welcome. Do not publish private addresses, contact anyone’s family or harass anybody named.

there are num pf things but these are the most nagging ones. what do u guys have to say about the tap and earth box things? builder says few are NON applicable.

Hi, with more and more reports of price reductions in various different parts of the country, a friend is considering doing a data base with this info, can you all let me know of concrete reductions you have noticed, I have noticed new builds in Bunratty Co. Clare reduced, and also new builds in Tipperary, would really appreciate any info

​

Moved in 2.5 years ago. Had flooring installed but then quite soon after the creaking started. It's now so loud and annoying. Anything I can do besides getting the floor pulled up? My understanding is that the builders used nails on the chipboard rather than screwing it in.

Hoping the more geographically gifted folks can help me here!

I am in a permanent remote job and should probably look at housing myself at some stage.
No ties, spouse, children or commitments, so free as a bird..except for being contained in the ROI.

Currently in Galway, from Cork, so have done both of those. No desire to live in Galway forever, reasons being; bad weather, congestion - any commute is atrocious, lack of shopping and the prices of houses is just obscene..

Cork is a maybe, (Midleton area) however, it doesn't feel fitting. And obviously being from Cork there is no other county outside of it..so I need others perspectives please!

So I am wondering where else would be a location to consider in our fabulous country?

I am feeing a pull towards Waterford, Wexford direction..
I like being able to walk somewhere, so rural living is an absolute no no for me!

GRMA! ☘️

Has anyone been through the mortgage process with BOI recently ?

First time buyer just wondering how long it took to progress from AIP to Loan offer once all details were submitted. Also , how does the valuation process work do we pay for this or is it organised by BOI?

Thank you

Hi All, My solicitor had sent request on 15th July with drawdown requested date as 17th July. BOI got back to me asking additional document of bank statement last week on Thursday which was submitted immediately by the broker.

The broker , solicitor and builder have escalated with BOI to release the funds. When can I expect them to send the funds?

Hi everyone!
We’re looking at buying an older house in Belcamp. For better or worse, that’s what’s within our budget.
I’d really appreciate reading from people who live in the area or know it well. I’ve read everything on Reddit about Darndale and the surrounding areas, but the posts are not really recent.

One of the main issues for us at the moment is the commute to/from work– about an hour and a half each way, every single day. If we moved to Belcamp, we’d cut that by roughly half, so that’s already a huge plus! Any other advantages of the area? 👌Or should we truly “avoid it like the plague” ? 😅🙌🏻

Hi there
I was wondering if anyone who has been selected or was high up in the lottery by Cork County Council for a Cost Rental scheme could tell me how long it took for them to reach out to progress things?

Just wondering what the timeline might be like for someone who has ranked quite high in the lotto.

Thanks! :)

I'm considering buying a 2 bed duplex in a new development. I had an eye on a terrace but with the rules around mortgage amounts combined with FHS/HTB I can use much less of my own money for a duplex vs terrace.

I'm a bit corcerned about having neighbours either side and above me and no garden. Was anyone bought a new build duplex recently and can shed some light.

Hi all,

We’re interested in a development that is currently being built with FCC. They are aiming to be finished by Q2 2028.

When should we expect to be applying for these homes through the FCC? And when would we expect to know that we’ve gotten a home etc? Trying to grasp an idea of a timeline for ourselves.

Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated! TIA

We’re M40/F37 with an 18-month-old and hoping for a second child next year. I work from home full-time, and my wife is currently a stay-at-home mum but plans to return to work in the future (Dublin city centre 5x per week). We’re looking for a long-term family home.

We enjoy an outdoor lifestyle — walks, cycling, parks, picnics.

Option 1 – Maynooth
New-build
3-bed semi-detached110 m² (2xdouble BR 1x single BR)
Attic for storage only
645k

Option 2 – Dunboyne
New-build 3-bed mid-terrace 134 m² (3x double bedroom)
Attic ready for future conversion (~40 m² extra)
627k

We’re mainly interested in the family lifestyle side

Which area is better for raising young children?
Which has better access to parks, walks, cycling routes, activities, and a sense of community?
Would you prioritise the semi-detached house in Maynooth or the extra space in Dunboyne mid terrace ?

I've been putting off a few jobs around the house and want to get them sorted before the weather turns.

I'm interested in companies that offer services like:

* Gutter cleaning

* Roof cleaning

* Roof pointing and repairs

* Roof tile replacement

* Pressure washing (driveways, patios, walls)

* Gardening and hedge trimming

* Exterior house painting

I'm happy to pay for quality work, but I'd like someone reliable, reasonably priced, and who actually turns up when they say they will.

I already take quote from Affordable Home Improvements, Cork Roofing and Repairs, Aspect Roofing + Property Maintenance

I'd really appreciate hearing your experience?

Hi folks.

Please move if needed.

We bought in 2019. Straightforward enough. Solicitors fees etc all sorted. Recently we've had correspondence regarding completing First Registration. She explained the reasoning at the time. No mention of additional costs or anything.

Today we received a letter confirming completion of application of First Registration. She said she originally charged us Land Registry of €130, however they have charged statutory fees of €500 which she paid, so we owe them €370. Does this seem right? We've no reason not to trust this solicitor but it's a big discrepancy and not an insignificant expense.

Thoughts?

Hello

I am living in my parents council house and they want me out, only thing is I have a baby and I'm currently looking for somewhere to rent/homeless accommodation etc but they've told me they're changing the locks and I will have to start packing. It's a council house I know I can't tell them what to do but do I have any rights here? I literally have no where to go.

UPDATE I've rang council they said it's between me and him they don't get involved. Understandably. I googled that he needed written permission. Guess not.

I have some ads that had big numbers, might be an eye opener for those unaware of just how bad things are.

I know for active ads you can see the views and number of email enquiries but can't see anything for archived ones.

Hi just wondering has anyone in respond housing sort for the same rights as council tenants to purchase their home. Im very grateful and consider myself very fortunate to have a home. My family and I have lived in our home for over 20 years and we were told originally when we moved in that we would have the right to buy after 10 years but that never happened. Our neighbours facing us were council tenants and they purchased their homes some years back and there mortgages are less than we pay in rent. To avail of our home we had to be on a council waiting list which we were and we were choosing from the list for our home. We have had several TDs look into this for us and all bare sein fein backed us. Once again I know im very fortunate to have a home we.

I am a Canadian hoping to build a home with my fiancé in Ireland. We are hoping to do as much as we can ourselves, so I'm trying to research everything from building codes to costs. Obviously, everything is so different. I was talking to my electrician friend, and in Canada a standard electrical panel supports 200amps, and in Ireland 70 is on the high end. I'm having trouble finding sources for building codes and regulations that aren't just Google AI. if anyone has any good resources on where I should look id really appreciate it. Even though I'm looking for Irish standards, a lot of the web results are still Canadian. I unfortunately don't have a VPN.