Home Truths: Ireland faces a planning timebomb

A labyrinthine planning system, spiralling rents and changing demographics are contributing to the housing crisis, but can these problems be fixed?

The Barnageeragh Cove development in Skerries, Co Dublin Picture: Maura Hickey

For years, Ireland’s building industry industry was on its knees. Now, demand for housing is increasing rapidly, but where is the supply? Right across Dublin there are sites with planning permission – sites where developers could build the homes needed to meet demand and solve the homelessness crisis. But the number of homes built in the ...