Housing Minister James Browne Drops Homelessness Targets Amid Record Highs

Minister for Housing James Browne has announced he will no longer provide estimates for when homelessness figures are expected to decline, stating it is «very difficult to model». This decision comes as homelessness reached a new high of 17,548 in May, including 5,604 children in emergency accommodation. Browne's approach involves moving away from targets, which critics argue is an admission of failure to solve the crisis.

Homelessness figures saw a minor 0.5% drop this month but are up 66% compared to June four years ago. Browne attributed the housing crisis to a significant increase in population, a claim that has been challenged given the crisis predates recent population growth. Former Housing Minister Simon Coveney had promised to end homelessness by early 2017.

Meanwhile, Ireland's largest private residential landlord, Ires Reit, which owns 3,627 properties, is lobbying to be included in Tánaiste Simon Harris’ investment scheme. This scheme aims to help young Irish people build wealth, despite concerns that investing in companies like Ires Reit, which contributes to high housing costs, may be counterproductive. The article also cautions against investing in the current market due to a potential AI bubble burst in the next few years.

Separately, the European Data Centre Association is lobbying the EU to prioritize data centre proliferation over climate goals. Data centres are projected to consume about a third of Ireland’s total energy in the coming years, raising concerns about energy usage and climate impact.