The Daily Star Ireland
The Irish Cabinet is expected to review new proposals next week that aim to reduce apartment construction costs and stimulate housing supply. Among the measures to be brought forward by Housing Minister James Browne is a reduction in the minimum floor area of studio apartments from the current 37 square metres to 32 square metres. Additionally, a standardised design of 76 square metres is being proposed for three-bedroom apartments, a decrease from the current 90 square metre minimum.
The government believes that these changes, if implemented, could reduce the cost of building each unit by between €50,000 and €100,000. The Minister has assured colleagues that these revisions will not compromise essential safety or environmental criteria, with fire regulations, accessibility requirements, and sustainability standards remaining intact.
Other modifications include eliminating the requirement for developments to contain a fixed percentage of one-bedroom and three-bedroom units. Under the current framework, apartment blocks must meet set quotas for varying unit types. The revised approach would grant developers greater flexibility in responding to demand.
Changes to Design Rules and Political Response
Adjustments are also being proposed to the requirements around dual-aspect apartments, which currently mandate that 33% of units in urban areas and 50% in suburban areas have windows on two or more external walls. The new guidance would introduce a consistent 25% rule across all locations, lowering design burdens for developers.
Furthermore, the existing rule that more than half of all apartments in a development must exceed minimum size requirements by 10% is set to be eased. The new regulation would only require 25% of apartments to exceed minimum sizes, potentially allowing for denser, lower-cost developments.
The proposals have drawn immediate political criticism. Sinn Féin housing spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin described the planned measures as reckless, arguing they will worsen affordability and push up land values. He expressed concern that smaller units would diminish quality of life, particularly amid rising rental costs.
Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne echoed those concerns, suggesting the measures would fuel the construction of small rental units unsuitable for long-term occupancy by families. He warned that the country risks repeating development patterns from the pre-financial crash era, prioritising investor-driven units over genuinely affordable housing.
Minister Defends Supply-Led Strategy
In response, Minister Browne defended the policy changes, describing them as essential to addressing the housing shortage. Appearing on national television, he reiterated that affordability hinges on expanding supply and asserted that the private sector must be encouraged to resume building at scale. He said planning reforms will have a tangible impact and believes recent caution in the housing market has become counterproductive.
The Minister argued that smaller unit sizes and more flexible design regulations will improve the economics of apartment development, making it feasible for builders to deliver homes at lower price points. He acknowledged that current rents are too high but insisted that only increasing housing output can provide sustainable relief.
Meanwhile, Labour’s housing spokesperson Conor Sheehan called for a greater role for the state in directly delivering housing. He criticised the Cost Rental Scheme for being pegged to market rates, stating that with rents in the scheme nearing €1,800 per month, affordability remains out of reach for many. He advocated linking rent to income levels rather than market conditions.
