Planning Regulations Identified as Key Obstacle to Housing Development

The Central Bank of Ireland has highlighted stringent planning regulations as a significant barrier to increasing housing supply. In 2024, housing completions fell by 7% to just over 30,000 units. Projections indicate that the government’s targets of 41,000, 43,000, and 48,000 units for the next three years will likely be missed, with forecasts of 35,000, 40,000, and 44,000 units respectively. Addressing planning constraints is deemed essential to meet housing demand.