Gaeltacht housing demand concentrated among under-44s as 44% want to build homes locally
Udarás na Gaeltachta survey finds strong demand for standalone rural housing, with young Irish speakers citing lack of supply as a barrier to remaining in Gaeltacht communities
21 May 2026 | 📧 editor@ipropertyradio.com
More than half of respondents to a new Údarás na Gaeltachta housing survey are under the age of 44, with the findings highlighting acute demand for affordable housing across Ireland’s Gaeltacht regions and a strong preference for rural, low-density homes.
The survey, published today by Údarás na Gaeltachta, gathered responses from 351 participants and points to significant housing pressure among younger, highly educated Irish speakers seeking to live and work within Gaeltacht communities.
According to the results, 33% of respondents were aged between 25 and 34, while a further 23% were aged 35 to 44. The survey also found that 57% of respondents were raised in the Gaeltacht and continue to live there, while 83% identified themselves as fluent or native Irish speakers.
The findings point to a demographic with high levels of educational attainment and workforce participation. Almost half of respondents, 49%, hold postgraduate qualifications, with a further 28% holding bachelor’s degrees. Meanwhile, 82% are employed full-time and an additional 5% are studying full-time.
Despite this, the survey indicates substantial barriers to accessing housing. More than a quarter of respondents, 26%, are still living in the family home, while 29% are renting. The data suggests that many adults remain unable to secure independent accommodation within Gaeltacht areas.
Among all respondents currently seeking housing, 15% said they were unable to find rental accommodation, 17% could not find homes for sale, 27% wanted to build a home in the Gaeltacht and 14% wished to purchase a home.
When respondents not actively seeking housing are excluded, the scale of unmet demand becomes more pronounced. In that cohort, 30% said they were searching unsuccessfully for rental accommodation, 32% could not find homes to buy, 44% wished to build a home in the Gaeltacht and 32% wanted to purchase a property.
The survey also highlights a clear preference for standalone housing rather than higher-density residential development. Respondents expressed strong interest in homes located close to villages or in rural settings, while apartments and high-density developments attracted little support.
Commuting patterns identified in the survey suggest that housing supply, rather than employment location, is the key constraint for many residents. Some 67% of respondents said they would be willing to travel up to one hour to work in order to live in the Gaeltacht.
Respondents also strongly supported measures aimed at increasing housing supply through the renovation of vacant and derelict homes. There was broad agreement on the need for improved public information campaigns to encourage property owners to bring vacant homes back into use, alongside calls for increased construction sector skills and workforce capacity.
Commenting on the findings, Tomás Ă“ SĂocháin, Chief Executive of Ăšdarás na Gaeltachta, said the results reflected growing frustration among younger Irish-speaking communities.
“These figures are a reflection of the demand from the Gaeltacht and Irish-speaking community for housing for Irish speakers. Young, educated people with Irish are looking to live and work in the Gaeltacht, but there is no housing available for them,” he said.
“They are willing to commute, they are willing to settle down and raise a family. The full results of the survey will be shared by Údarás with the County Councils, state departments, etc. in order to inform decision making.”
The findings add to wider national concerns around rural housing supply, vacancy, planning policy and demographic sustainability in Irish-speaking regions. They also reinforce growing policy debates around balancing rural housing demand with infrastructure provision, environmental considerations and the long-term viability of Gaeltacht communities.
