Clúid housing announced they are now taking applications for a new cost-rental scheme in Belmayne that includes 1-, 2-, and 3-bed apartments. This, of course, is a good thing. Affordable housing is crucially needed and should be celebrated when either Approved Housing Bodies or the State are trying to deliver housing for more people. 1-bed apartments will be rented at €1397/month, 2-bed for €1725/month, and 3-beds for €1800/month. These prices reflect a 25% savings in compared to current market rent prices, according to Clúid housing.
The EU Urban Agenda Partnership on Housing define “affordable housing” as housing that is 30% or less of a household’s income. Ireland defines “affordable housing” as less than 35%, so not a substantial difference. In Ireland, there is also in income limit on those who qualify for cost-rental, capping the household income to €66,000 in Dublin and €59,000 in the rest of the country. The average income in Dublin is €46,000, which is the highest in the country. If we use Ireland’s definition of “affordable housing” and use the average income of €46,000, that would mean that a single person in Dublin should not be spending more than €1096/month on rent. That would mean that the “affordable” 1-bed Clúid are offering would still not be affordable. This is not Clúid’s fault, and we are not at all suggesting that they are not doing enough—their housing is still less than the market price. Our real issue here is that the market price has gotten to a place that even “affordable housing” is still unaffordable.
We have failed greatly as a country if affordable housing is still unattainable for the average person, and worse for those making less than the county average. Yes, a two-person household where the couple are both employed would be able to consider this affordable and would be less than 35% of their income. But does that mean single people should be resigned to living in a house share until they find that special someone? Or worse, they should remain in the family home due to sheer lack of options?
The budget for 2026 is going to do nothing to solve this either, instead incentivizing more unaffordable apartment units in lieu of social and affordable housing (see the post from the Irish Catholic where I briefly discuss this). While we are still waiting on the revised housing plan that is set to be released any day now, the optimism isn’t high after the blows received from the budget announcement, and we are left with the remaining question: does the government actually even care?
