Two Irish MEPs appointed as deputies of EU committee on housing crisis

By Gráinne Ní Aodha, PA

Irish MEPs Ciaran Mullooly and Regina Doherty have been appointed as deputies of the European Parliament’s new committee on tackling Europe’s housing crisis.

Mr Mullooly, an Independent Ireland MEP and former RTÉ correspondent, and Ms Doherty, a former Fine Gael TD and ex-minister for social protection, were appointed alongside two other vice-chairpersons on Thursday.

Italian MEP Irene Tinagli was elected chairwoman of the new special committee, which the European Parliament voted in December to establish.

The committee is tasked with coming up with ways of delivering “decent, sustainable and affordable” housing in the EU, according to a statement by the Parliament press office.

It will produce a final report after its year-long term.

“Its responsibilities will include mapping housing needs, analysing existing housing policies across the EU and contributing to the Commission’s future implementation of the European affordable housing plan and the European strategy for housing construction.”

Ms Tinagli said: “The housing crisis has significant repercussions for the quality of life of European citizens, affecting health, social cohesion, and economic opportunities.

“That is why we are committed to making sure everyone has equal access to housing, with particular attention for young people, persons with disabilities, and vulnerable groups.”

While access to housing has been a long-running problem in Ireland, linked to stalled construction in the aftermath of the 2008 economic crash, housing affordability has become a widespread issue across Europe.

According to data from Eurofound, since 2016 the costs of buying and renting a home have increased faster than disposable income.

Between 2015 and 2023, house prices in the EU rose on average by 48 per cent, while in Ireland they rose by 69 per cent.

More than half of Irish adults aged between 25 and 29 are still living at home, according to Eurostat figures from 2023, which is above the EU average of 41 per cent and sees Ireland with the ninth highest proportion of young adults living at home.

Housing was also the most common reason why people voted in the November general election, and rising prices was the most common reason why people voted in the European Parliament elections in June.

The EU has no direct competency on housing, and cannot fund housing projects in any EU member state, but it can collect data and make recommendations.