Laws to fast-track apartment size changes could result in High Court challenges, lawyers warn
Proposed amendments would allow developers with planning permission to apply to build smaller and more apartments
Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
Is Ireland ready for drab Soviet-style apartment blocks?
Government’s new apartment standards are so low they resemble the old Soviet blocks. And while more units may result, they won’t house more people
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Ireland has a management problem as well as a demographic dilemma
‘We should be making homes, not units’: Smaller apartments plan could lead to more planning delays and few savings, experts warn
There's a fear among many architects that high-density, small-space living is unsustainable and does not serve the long-term needs of anyone except those who have no other choice. Photograph: iStock
Living in a small apartment: ‘It’s claustrophobic ... you can’t get away from each other’
New guidelines announced by Minister for Housing James Browne will see a reduction in the minimum size of studio apartments
How to move to a remote Irish island, to live a ‘better way of life’
There are tens of thousands of euro in grants available to renovate an island home, but life there might not suit everyone
Department of Housing facing court challenge after ‘11th hour’ withdrawal from PPP deal
Minister for Housing initially told housing committee members he was not aware of any legal proceedings
The Irish Times view on apartments: standards must not be abandoned
Europeans who relocate to Ireland are not struck by the generosity of our apartment layouts
Developers with permission for apartments will not need fresh application to change plans in line with new standards
More than 50,000 apartments are approved in Dublin alone, but could now be built with less floor space than originally agreed
Apartment size reductions offer ‘small, dark’ and ‘sad vision’ for Dublin, councillors say
City councillors seek ‘urgent meeting’ with Minister for Housing to discuss proposed changes
Social housing projects to go from four-stage approval process to single-stage
Move is intended to speed up the process of getting Government approval for building homes
Homelessness: Number of people in emergency accommodation rises to new high of 15,747
Almost 5,000 children included in total, which has risen by 11 per cent since May 2024, Department of Housing figures show
Delays to housing plan could push it back to September
Government figures say plan could not be completed until funding review of multi-year infrastructure delivery programme published
Minister seeks to ease fears of Airbnb hosts over new short-term letting rules
Many people live in the homes they are renting out and so will not need planning permission, says James Browne
Living next door to dereliction: ‘It’s been rotting for years … Rats all over the place’
Some 830 council homes nationally have been vacant for more than a year
Minister wants exemptions to new rent rules to be considered for students sharing houses
Students should not be ‘inadvertently disadvantaged’ by the new regime, says spokesman for James Lawless
Security allowance for local councilors to be quadrupled
Increase comes against the backdrop of increased concern about the safety of politicians
‘If you hang tough, good things do happen’: 17 people get keys to independent living apartments
Limerick accommodation a stepping stone for some returning from ‘rock bottom’
Semi-state CEOs: What do they earn and should they be paid more?
New Government structures mean many heads of commercial State companies will seek pay packet increase following review
A key social housing scheme is in danger of falling apart. Why?
The State has pulled the plug on a multi-million euro deal at the last minute, throwing the public-private partnership model into doubt
Home building rate shrinks for first time in nine months amid wider dip in construction
Construction firms report ‘market uncertainty and signs of demand easing’, even as Government again lags housing targets
The Irish Times view on domestic planning exemptions: room to improve
The idea is a good one if executed well, offering greater flexibility for families
Garden rooms and attics: What are the proposed changes to regulations?
Government is looking again at making attic conversions and ‘granny flats’ exempt from planning, an idea that was floated in February
State utility firms told Minister chief executive pay limits posed ‘serious risks’ to organisations
Pay review group told there were concerns about the potential loss of chief executives at critical time for companies
Homelessness reaches another record high, with more than 15,500 in emergency accommodation
Figures from Department of Housing include 4,775 homeless children
Sec Gen rejection of ‘housing tsar’ shows Government ‘shambles’ - Sinn Fein
Top civil servant Graham Doyle says he opposed term and not proposed role
‘We do not need a housing tsar,’ top civil servant Graham Doyle tells property conference
Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers insists plans to appoint head of Housing Activation Office will go ahead
Progress on regeneration of Dublin city centre flat complex stalled by queries on costs
Glovers Court flats to be turned into 53 new homes by council when queries from Department of Housing are resolved
Intimidation in a Dublin suburb, and the derelict house being used as stables
Local authority says it has 11 ‘void’ units in Cherry Orchard as locals speak of being ‘terrorised’ by antisocial behaviour
Almost 2,000 applications for just 20 Dublin cost rental homes
Rent for the one-bedroom apartments will be €1,326 per month, while the two-bedroom units are €1,478 per month
‘We’re at a critically low level of housing stock’ for buyers and renters
Inside Business podcast with Ciarán Hancock
James Browne broke Dáil rules when refusing to release housing data, Ceann Comhairle finds
Data refused due to commercial sensitivity with department saying it would be cumbersome to provide
Home completions must ‘accelerate significantly’ if housing targets are to be met, department warns
Slight rise in homes finished in first three months of year compared to 2024, but annual figures show 4.2% fall
Blue flags: Record number of Irish beaches and marinas win award for 2025
Kerry has most blue flags with 15, while Cork has most green coast awards with 14
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