Dublin

1. Rich Literary History: Dublin is a UNESCO City of Literature, home to several famous writers such as James Joyce, Samuel Beckett, and W.B. Yeats. The city hosts the Dublin Literary Pub Crawl, which celebrates its literary heritage by taking visitors through iconic pubs and locations tied to these authors. 2. Unique Traditions: One lesser-known tradition in Dublin is the "Dublin Bay Prawn Festival," celebrated annually in the coastal suburb of Howth. This festival showcases the local seafood and features cooking demonstrations, markets, and various festivities to promote the culinary heritage of the area. 3. Hidden Gardens: Dublin is home to several hidden gardens and green spaces that are often overlooked by visitors. For example, the Dublin Castle Gardens are a serene escape right in the city center, featuring beautiful landscapes and historical significance, yet remain relatively quiet compared to the more popular tourist attractions.

The Dublin housing market in early 2025 is experiencing strong price inflation driven by chronic supply shortages and surging demand. Homeownership in Dublin has continued its downward trend, with recent figures showing only 45.2% of Dublin City residents own their own home, while 54.8% rent, reflecting the capital’s role as a national outlier in rental rates. The average rent in Dublin now exceeds €2,400 per month, which translates to a median rent of roughly €35–€40 per square meter. The median price for purchasing an apartment in Dublin is approximately €6,000–€7,000 per square meter, with overall median dwelling prices in the city around €360,000, and much higher in some neighborhoods. Publicly owned housing, often called social housing in Ireland, is provided either directly by local authorities or through approved not-for-profit bodies. While often used interchangeably, social housing refers specifically to homes intended for those who cannot afford market rents or purchase prices. Publicly owned housing makes up approximately 10–12% of Dublin’s housing stock. The government has increased funding for social housing projects in an attempt to relieve pressure, but the overall share remains modest compared to private rentals, which account for the majority of non-owner-occupied homes. Overall, Dublin’s housing market remains marked by high prices, a large and growing rental sector, and ongoing concerns about affordability and supply.

Dublin’s housing crisis in 2025 is defined by chronic shortages, record price inflation, and a widening affordability gap. The city faces severe undersupply: just under 1,500 properties were available to rent nationwide as of March 2025, with new-build completions in Dublin failing to keep pace with demand. Fewer than 10,000 second-hand homes were for sale nationwide in early 2025, the lowest since records began, making Dublin’s market exceptionally tight. Average rents in Dublin now exceed €2,400 per month, putting immense pressure on both private and social renters. Median home prices in the city have climbed sharply, with Dublin’s prices rising by over 12% year-on-year, an eight-year high for inflation. This has put homeownership out of reach for many: half a million people nationally are believed to be in housing need or distress, including those waiting for social housing, on emergency accommodation lists, or struggling with unaffordable rents. At least 14,000 adults and children in Ireland are homeless, with family homelessness particularly acute in Dublin. The groups most affected include young adults—350,000 between 20 and 35 still live with parents due to unaffordability—families, single parents, students forced into unsuitable accommodation, and vulnerable populations such as women fleeing domestic violence. The mental and physical strain caused by overcrowding, poor housing conditions, and persistent uncertainty is widespread. The crisis impacts not only the poorest, but increasingly the city’s working and middle classes as well.

Dublin City Council and the Irish government are responding to affordable and sustainable housing challenges through a series of targeted programs and policy measures backed by national and city strategies. Dublin’s housing strategy emphasizes a mix of social, affordable, and cost-rental housing, alongside regeneration projects and sustainable development principles. Recent targets under the national “Housing for All” plan aim for 312,750 new homes by 2030, including 88,400 social homes and 53,800 affordable or cost-rental homes, with over €40 billion allocated for delivery. Notably, the city has launched the Dublin Affordable Purchase Scheme, with new A-rated homes at the Montpelier (O’Devaney Gardens) development. This project will provide 379 social, affordable, and cost-rental homes in its first phase, offered at below-market costs via shared equity, while integrating community facilities and high sustainability standards. Other key initiatives include the Croí Cónaithe (Cities) Scheme, Project Tosaigh—accelerating construction on stalled sites through public-private partnerships, and cost-rental arrangements providing secure tenancies at below-market rents. Local and national policies also support affordable and social housing through planning tools, purchase and leasing schemes, regeneration of vacant properties, and targeted financial waivers to reduce construction costs. Despite robust strategies and new projects, recent reports indicate that the pace of new housing delivery is still below official targets, underlining an urgent need for reforms to boost output and address ongoing affordability and supply issues.

Housing cooperatives in Dublin play a modest but growing role in the city’s housing landscape. Co-operative Housing Ireland (CHI) is the main body championing this model, managing approximately 5,500 homes nationwide, with a significant portion in Dublin. However, cooperative housing makes up a very small share of the city’s total housing stock—estimates place it at well below 2%. The sector’s focus is on creating sustainable, affordable homes, typically through mixed-tenure developments and active resident participation in community management. The sector has expanded by about 50% since 2011, primarily by partnering with Dublin City Council and leveraging innovative approaches—such as acquiring unfinished developments, managing leased affordable units, and building new mixed-tenure schemes. Current activity includes ongoing construction projects in Cherry Orchard and Drumcondra, aimed at integrating cooperative homes within broader social and affordable housing targets. Policy support for cooperative housing is growing, though still limited compared to other forms of public support. The city and national government are exploring ways to facilitate cooperative development by releasing public land, providing technical assistance, and experimenting with planning and financing mechanisms. These efforts are complemented by broader initiatives under the “Housing for All” plan, which promotes affordable and cost-rental models, some of which overlap with cooperative principles. Despite these efforts, cooperative housing remains a niche solution within Dublin’s wider housing strategy, with its expansion often constrained by land availability, funding, and regulatory frameworks.