In light of the ESRI’s recent report, it has become clear that the forefront issues associated with Ireland’s state of affairs, particularly in regard to urban planning and homebuilding, are rooted in the country’s rapidly transforming population needs – needs that are not adequately supported by the prevailing system.
When compared to fellow European nations, a stark difference appears where Irish homes are idiosyncratically larger on average, with less occupants, resulting in an oversupply of bedrooms in relation to demand.
Scrutinising these circumstances reveals that, within the EU, Ireland holds the lowest share of apartments making up its housing inventory, a mere 10.6%. This deficit in housing variety generates considerable obstacles for those wishing to amend their living arrangements in line with their evolving life stages. Thus, because of the monopoly of three to four bedroom houses in the housing market, underutilisation has become an inherent characteristic.
Focusing particularly on the older Irish population, the phenomenon of under-occupation is amplified. Evidence shows that over 88% of individuals over 65 years live in homes that exceed their needs, a trend more evident among wealthier homeowners. To rectify this, the ESRI believes that launching more “high-rise developments” could encourage people to migrate to suitably sized homes. This, however, is not without debate.
Crucially, it should be acknowledged that individuals’ life choices and preferences hold significant weight. Understandably, many have established a sense of homeliness in their current dwellings and have a strong reluctance to leave the homes where they’ve created memorable histories and nurtured their families. This preference for traditional houses over apartments also means a large portion of the population would find a shift to downsizing quite challenging. Furthermore, levying penalties for their decision to stay would not stand well ethically, and would likely lead to political fallouts.
A last year report from the Housing Department suggests that between 15-20% of elders might consider downsizing, hypothetically freeing up 121,000 homes. However, this would only happen under specific conditions. They would need to buy a smaller, purpose-built house meant for mature households, in their familiar vicinity, at a lower price. Notably, very few would contemplate shifting to an apartment.
In highly congested urban locations, where housing scarcity is sharper, opportunities for individuals to downsize within their familiar community are alarmingly few. Moreover, most new urban developments are rental-based apartments, designated by the 2020 report as the least attractive option.
The ongoing issue isn’t fleeting or minor. With the surge in population within Ireland, a considerable shift in how households are formed is being observed. The size of families is reducing, the life expectancy is increasing, and a larger fraction of the population is choosing to live independently. The existing housing in Ireland fails to echo these facts. Moreover, it seems the nation’s future planning is also falling behind these developments.