Irish Housing Crisis: Tánaiste Harris Rejects «Most Severe» Claim Amid Affordability, Condition Concerns

Tánaiste Simon Harris defended Ireland’s housing performance against comments by Irene Tinagli MEP, chair of the European Parliament’s special committee on the housing crisis, who called it among the «most severe» in Europe. Austin Campbell, Chief Executive of The Liberties Community Project, argued that housing output numbers are meaningless without broader social and economic context.

Campbell highlighted that the average price of a new home in Ireland in 2026 is €435,000, while the median national salary is approximately €40,000, making new homes unaffordable for many. Stamp duty data from 2025 showed that 3,219 new homes were purchased by individual households, but 4,079 were acquired by companies, funds, and institutional buyers, including approved housing bodies and local authorities.

Research by Trinity College Dublin and The Liberties Community Project in Oliver Bond House found damp and mould in 82 per cent of surveyed homes, draughty conditions in 73 per cent, and asthma prevalence 2.4 times higher than in other parts of the area. Oliver Bond House is one of 212 multi-unit complexes managed by Dublin City Council, with 90 of similar age, suggesting widespread issues.

Campbell criticized the State’s focus on abstract output figures, noting that the Council of Europe’s FIDH v Ireland 2014/110 decision found Ireland failed to ensure adequate housing standards and collect complete housing condition statistics for 15 years. He stressed that the crisis will persist until politicians prioritize affordability and lived conditions over commencement numbers.