MEP Ciaran Mullooly calls for Austrian-inspired approach to housing crisis
MEP Ciaran Mullooly has said the Irish Government plan to deliver 300,000 new homes before 2030 “hasn't a hope in hell of being delivered” unless the new housing Minister adapts the creative European and Austrian models to achieve it.
MEP Mullooly, who sits on the Regional Development (REGI) committee of the European Parliament, welcomed the Irish Government’s Programme for Government 2025, which commits to annual investment of €24 billion to deliver 300,000 new homes by 2030 but emphasised the need for effective management of rising house prices, workforce training, and social inclusion MEASURES if this is to be achieved. “This is a SIGNIFICANT level of investment in housing,” MEP Mullooly said. “However, it is essential that this investment is managed effectively to ensure affordability and inclusivity - otherwise so many people will be left behind."
Highlighting Austria’s globally recognised housing model, MEP Mullooly pointed to its cost-rent principle, where rents are based on actual construction, maintenance and financing costs rather than market demand. This ensures long-term affordability and stability for tenants. “Austria’s system combines high-quality social housing with mixed-income communities, encouraging integration while keeping rents affordable. Ireland can learn much from this model,” he added, "we have to bring some reality to new home owners with rent they can afford and if the scheme is properly regulated we can achieve more and more homes and reduce rents by over 15% in the Midland North West region. With rent prices rising by 36% since 2020, we need to tackle this issue head on.”
MEP Ciaran Mullooly emphasised the need to manage spiralling house prices by reinvesting revenue from housing projects into building more homes and borrowing sustainably, following Austria’s example. “Sustainable financing models are key to maintaining affordability and ensuring continuous development. Ireland must ensure public housing remains permanently affordable and that rising property prices don’t undermine this programme,” he said. He also urged the government to utilise EU funding, such as low-interest loans from the European Investment Bank (EIB) and grants from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), while introducing tax incentives to attract skilled construction workers back to Ireland to meet housing targets.
He also highlighted the critical need for workforce training. “The government’s plan to recruit 12,500 apprentices annually by 2030 is a step forward, but careful management is needed to ensure these workers are trained effectively and that the workers are available to meet these housing targets” he said, "I believe that the old apprenticeship model which applied to students in the Bord na Mona midlands region should now be adapted for young people in these communities who want to live locally and learn their apprenticeship from home and I will be including this type of scheme as a priority in my forthcoming file for the REGI committee of the European parliament."
