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Sunday Property Round-Up 15th March 2026 

Weekly Irish property market news and insights – for the industry, by the industry  

RENTAL REFORMS FALLOUT continues this week with further mass evictions, this time in Galway and Limerick.

Risk of poverty rate highest in several years, according to CSO: People living in rented accommodation were more likely to be at risk of poverty at 24.2%  

This week, the European Parliament approved a new report on housing, calling for cuts to red tape, increased private development, and more action on homelessness.

PLANNING permissions for new homes rise 7.9% in 2025: CSO data shows nearly 35,000 homes granted permission last year, with apartment approvals surging and Dublin accounting for more than half of all apartment schemes 

This quarter has seen an interesting trend of small to medium-sized development sites becoming available across the country; some with, some without planning, and planning commanding an arguably disproportionate premium. Derisking development at one stage only — planning — has created a new profit centre for some landowners, without delivering a single new home. The Property District team is working on this analysis at the moment (and looking for ready-to-go resi sites), if you have experience/insight to this, please get in touch with me directly on  carol@caroltallon.com 

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW FROM MIPIM 2026:

*Housing Minister James Browne did a good job on the main stage pitching Ireland as a destination for housing investment: “We have acted on unlocking our potential”  

*Internationally, we need to think of housing delivery as infrastructure

*Mid-market housing viability is the nut we need to crack

*Political stability is an expanding/evolving line in the development risk register

*Evolving geopolitical tensions have changed the lens through which we view and measure environmental sustainability and building performance 

*Adaptability is key for successful PPPs

*Commerce of viability vs. Science of viability assessments

*Adaptive reuse: From a private sector developer:  We’ll do it, but “the reality is that it will cost us more and take us longer”

*Shifting role of planners 

*Sport as a driver of urban regeneration 

Critically, AI featured in every discussion and AI requires data centres: At the inaugural DATA CENTERS SUMMIT, Ireland was cited amongst the global cautionary tales, while in the UK, data centre sites are to jump the queue for grid connections and plans to build the UK’s largest data centre scheme near Scunthorpe in North Lincolnshire have gained outline approval. 

This comes the same week as a very significant milestone for Ireland went almost unnoticed: Ireland reached the 8GW renewable electricity milestone, reflecting installed wind and solar capacity doubling over the past decade. Wind now supplies 41% of electricity. 

PROPERTY DISTRICT PRESS OFFICE 

Below are the local and international stories that might be of particular interest: 

MIPIM DIARIES 2026

  • The 3rd Global ESG Awards were presented in the Grand Auditorium at MIPIM, recognising companies and leaders advancing measurable progress in sustainability, innovation and responsible development across the built environment: https://caroltallon.com/esg-global-awards-2026-at-mipim/

PODCAST: EU Role in Supporting Affordable Housing 

EU Housing Crisis, Supply Solutions and 

Why “Average Figures Mask Quite a Lot of Issues”


On the Property Round-Up on iProperty Radio this week, host Carol Tallon speaks to Matthew Baldwin, who – alongside Stefan Moser – leads the European Commission’s Housing Task Force.

The discussion explores how the European Commission is responding to the housing affordability crisis affecting Ireland and many other EU member states. Baldwin outlines the rationale behind the Commission’s Affordable Housing Plan and the work of the Housing Task Force, explaining how the EU is seeking to support member states while respecting national responsibility for housing policy. The conversation examines the four pillars of the plan – supply, investment, reforms and support for vulnerable households – and what they could mean for housing delivery across Europe.

The discussion also addresses the particular pressures facing Ireland, including rising rents, record homelessness figures and the challenge of scaling up housing supply while maintaining quality and sustainability.

This broad-reaching discussion also touches on MMC, regulatory simplification, investment models, vacant housing potential and the role of European collaboration in tackling housing supply constraints.

🎙️Listen back:  https://open.spotify.com/show/5EyzgZSvR4hFk6umOWyDCv?si=af8a709436ff4667

📽️ Watch the interview in full: https://youtu.be/zzwJ_bdlGMQ

If you missed last week’s round-up, you can catch up here: https://ipropertyradio.com/sunday-property-round-up/ 
As always, you might let me know if I have missed out on any relevant property news by emailing carol@caroltallon.com 

PLACEMAKING: https://placeengage.com

Open public consultations and community engagement, in association with the Public Consultation Institute of Ireland

  • Beautiful – Sustainable – Together: Aligned with Aarhus Convention transparency and New European Bauhaus principles, PLACEengage empowers communities, planners, and developers across Ireland’s public and private sectors to collaborate more effectively — Learn more at www.PLACEengage.com PLACEengage: Better placemaking, together.

Rural, Coastal & Islands

❓ Would you consider living on one of Ireland’s uninhabited islands? This is a serious question: ‘Island Futures, Taskscapes and Rural Policy – What Ireland’s Offshore Places Teach Us About Viability Beyond Resilience’ https://caroltallon.com/island-futures-taskscapes-and-rural-policy/ 

CONSTRUCTION: https://breakingground.news 

📍 Insights tool: You can get a more comprehensive view of weekly and/monthly planning activities at all stages through Property District’s Development Heat Map: https://propertydistrict.ie/development-heat-map/

  • From bust to boom, developer John Fleming is back in Cork: The Bandon-born builder/developer, once ranked the 75th richest man in Ireland with an estimated fortune of about €140m, has purchased a number of sites in the Victoria Cross/Dennehy’s Cross area of the city with planning permission for almost 600 student-bed spaces. The return of Mr Fleming to his native Cork, where he oversaw multiple flagship developments such as the €90m Fota Island Hotel and Resort in the noughties, follows his acquisition of three sites from Bellmount Developments Ltd, whose directors are brothers Pádraig and Seamus Kelleher — members of the Kelleher family who ran a successful motor tyre network. https://www.irishexaminer.com/property/commercial/arid-41808632.html
  • Glenveagh Properties reports higher revenues, profits and house sales for 2026, with revenues up 7% to €926m from €869m while its profits before tax increased by 10% to €125m from €114m. Glenveagh’s revenue growth came entirely from its partnerships with State bodies, which last year made up more than 40% of its business. Revenues from its direct home building were down year on year.  The company delivered a total of 2,568 new homes last year, up 11% https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2026/0313/1563194-glenveagh-properties-annual-results/

Breaking Ground News: Appointments & Construction Careers

  • BGN Construction Careers, your weekly newsletter from Breaking Ground news, keeps you updated on the latest job opportunities, while showcasing the very best employer brands and projects, across Ireland’s construction industry. Whether you are looking for your next role or planning your career path, stay connected with us for new openings, upskilling opportunities and industry news. Get all the latest job 

details straight to your inbox: Sign up https://breakingground.news/sign-up-form/

PODCASTS:

BREAKING GROUND

Offsite & Other Modern Methods of Construction, with Trudi Sully

We recorded this special episode of Breaking Ground at the Johnstown Estate during the CIF event marking International Women’s Day, where the conversation focused on one of the construction sector’s most important shifts — industrialised construction.

In this episode, Carol Tallon speaks with Trudi Sully, Director of Industrialised Construction at Mott MacDonald and Co-Chair of the UK’s Building Better – Community of Practice, powered by Housing Festival.

The discussion explores what Building Better is, why the initiative was created, and why the conversation around industrialised construction is gaining urgency now. Trudi also explains how a global engineering consultancy such as Mott MacDonald became deeply involved in housing innovation, and how collaboration across industry is helping to accelerate change.

The episode also looks at how professionals and organisations can engage with the Building Better community and contribute to advancing modern methods of construction.

Listen back: https://open.spotify.com/show/6QU2UipCdyYe4e154IzhKR


Watch back: https://youtu.be/xNBlQC2wW98

*Produced by Katie Tallon

CIF Safety Campaign 2026 Podcast 

Critical Risk – Hazardous Energy

In episode 2 of the Construction Industry Federation (CIF) Construction Safety Campaign 2026 podcast, Director of Safety, Education & Training, Sean Downey, joins Brian Kelly, Site Electrical Lead at SK Pharmteco, pharmaceutical manufacturer, on site at the Irish HQ in Swords to discuss the risks of working on hazardous energy and the mitigation measures that can be taken to deal with that.

🎙️Listen back:   https://open.spotify.com/show/2BqYvhbc8dRG6rMBa6VqCv

📽️ Watch the interview in full: https://youtu.be/bVG8F75_QBs

Produced by Katie Tallon MPRII, iProperty Radio for CIF

Watch the entire series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5hAEpymn6vnhCbgSqe6T8TJTfB9mvD6C&si=ity7U_ANvSSyc0bU

REAL ESTATE: www.irishrealestate.news

Residential 

*Searching for a new home or investment property in Ireland? Join the iProperty Radio FACEBOOK community of property buyers in Ireland 2026: https://www.facebook.com/groups/IrishPropertyBuyers/ 

iProperty Radio: NEW HOMES OF THE WEEK

Commercial 

Property Round-Up podcast on iProperty Radio 

The Property Round-Up podcast on iProperty Radio this week comes to you from MIPIM, where host Carol Tallon caught up with Alice Charles, Director of Cities, Planning & Design with Arup.

From housing as infrastructure to unlocking urban regeneration across Europe, this was a wide-ranging conversation on some of the biggest themes shaping #MIPIM 2026.

Alice shared insights from her work with cities and investors across Europe, including the huge potential of brownfield land for housing delivery, why early engagement with investors matters, and how cities like Copenhagen have successfully linked transport infrastructure with long-term urban regeneration.

They also discuss adaptive reuse, the growing focus on the “living sector”, and why meaningful community engagement must reach beyond the usual voices in public consultation.

A practical conversation on what cities, governments and investors need to do differently if we are serious about tackling the housing crisis.

🎧 https://open.spotify.com/show/5EyzgZSvR4hFk6umOWyDCv

📽️ https://youtu.be/iChx-Pzf7vc?si=MDVqtb8MjSGZg5qY 

*Produced by Katie Tallon MPRII

Housing Insights: The Housing Agency Podcast

🎙️ In advance of series 2 kicking off, catch up on all episodes of series 1 of The Housing Agency Ireland podcast – Housing Insights – with hosts Roslyn Molloy and David Silke

EPISODE 1: David Silke is joined by Gwen Perry, Head of Affordable Housing at the Housing Agency, for a deep dive into Cost Rental as Ireland’s newest houisng tenure. Listeners will learn about eligibility criteria, the significant advantages like security and stable, professionally managed homes, and how to apply for a scheme:

🎧 https://open.spotify.com/episode/4bHLc5FVqzcIAktWpRbjXS?si=ZHIYEu5hT0i1m0QyrMYWHA\

EPISODE 2: Roslyn Molloy explores the growing potential of Community-Led Housing (CLH) in Ireland with Hugh Brennan, founder and CEO of Ó Cualann Co-Housing Alliance, an organization committed to building communities, not just houses.

🎧 https://open.spotify.com/episode/42nfFUaVMKK7FuQPwWglLY?si=y_pSOaKsQfik4uPZ9dDb3Q

EPISODE 3: David Silke chats to Rob Lowth, Director of the Housing First National Office to breakdown the housing-led approach designed for people with complex needs, a history of rough sleeping, or long-term use of emergency accommodation.

🎧 https://open.spotify.com/episode/4Veh0H20LxQS58uIjzb48P?si=zeUXRqEiTj-dAlJbDAbwsw

EPISODE 4: Roslyn Molloy speaks with Jim Baneham, Director of Delivery and Innovation at The Housing Agency, about the need to increase apartment building, the national planning push for compact living, and how Croí Cónaithe (Cities) Scheme is delivering on the ground:

🎧 https://open.spotify.com/episode/0hirVgTsI9OJRBsUVzH1Zc?si=Hlad0w04T9qBeXiEefVXcA

🌏 Links to all episodes at https://ipropertyradio.com/housing-agency/

PROPTECH, CONSTRUCTION TECH & SMART CITIES: https://prop-tech.ie/

Proptech Ireland is updating the database of 2026 Irish technology providers for the built environment – sign up here: https://prop-tech.ie/register/  and email product or service details to hello@prop-tech.ie

  • Proptech Ireland: Ireland’s CONSTRUCTION and REAL ESTATE ESG technologies resource hub. Confused about how and where to start on your ESG journey? Contact us 👉https://prop-tech.ie
  • PICTURED: Some of the most unexpected, insightful, and eye-opening sessions at MIPIM take place before the doors officially open and the following was just such an example. Sincere thanks to Gouvernement Monaco for hosting a thoughtful and forward-looking discussion on ‘Building the Future: How Technology Is Transforming Real Estate and Construction Innovation, Investment, and the Future of the Built Environment’. This session highlighted Monaco’s commitment to accelerating innovation across sectors that are central to its economy – there are lessons here for Ireland.  The event also showcased the collaboration between Monaco and ESCP Business School/REAS ESCP Business School through the Monaco Real Estate Tech Innovation Program. Thank you to Diego Bonaventura, Head of Digital Economy at the Government of Monaco, for hosting the conversation, and to Alexandre Boin, Head of Residential Division at the Government of Monaco, for highlighting the Principality’s focus on innovation, international engagement and long-term competitiveness. On the panel, Ana Lozano Portillo, Founder CEO of Nidus Lab, emphasised the transformative potential of technology in addressing the housing challenge, noting that “housing has become a real worldwide problem, no matter the riches of the country.” She also highlighted how early decisions shape outcomes across a project lifecycle: “the decisions you take at the very first part of the feasibility study are going to impact along the process downstream in a very hard way.”. David Murray-Hundley The Grumpy Entrepreneur, Founder and CEO of Pario Ventures, placed today’s AI moment in historical perspective, observing that “we’re on a very early start of it,” comparing the current phase of AI to the early internet era when the real transformation was only beginning. He also stressed the importance of governance and commercial fundamentals, reminding founders that “customer, customer, customer… revenue, revenues” remain the core indicators of real traction (*I will tell Proptech Ireland members about his excellent take on being “the flea on the dog” in person!). Juan N. , Founder and GP at Zacua Ventures, spoke about what investors look for in construction technology, highlighting the importance of data, workflow integration and strategic value beyond capital. He noted that while access to large industry players can be powerful, founders should also work with more agile partners who can provide real-world testing environments and faster paths to adoption. A recurring theme was the need for technology, policy and capital to evolve together if the sector is to respond effectively to housing and sustainability challenges. In closing remarks, Nicholas Maclean, OBE RD FRICS IRRV (Hons) reflected on the broader implications of tech in decision-making, noting that innovation and data can give us “the authority of the power and the data to show when we are being misled,” particularly in areas such as housing policy and development.

PODCAST: The Proptech Hot Seat on iPropertyRadio.com

All previous episodes of the Proptech Hot Seat can be found at https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5hAEpymn6vnSmFt4WXloS0IQNfUkdw2G&si=qeT3RSVaXBPX3Sxd

Proptech Hot seat is sponsored by Proptech Ireland, the hub for innovators, investors and industry leaders https://prop-tech.ie/ 

Produced by Katie Tallon, with Hear Me Roar Media on sound https://hearmeroarmedia.com 

All Proptech Hot Seat episodes –  https://ipropertyradio.com/proptech-hot-seat/ 

INFRASTRUCTURE, ENERGY, ENVIRONMENT & BIODIVERSITY

  • STANDING room only as the first ever DATA CENTERS SUMMIT AT MIPIM –  From Bits to Bricks – kicked off earlier this week:. It was interesting – and uncomfortable – to hear how Ireland (particularly Dublin) was mentioned in the room. ‘Dublin’s data centre dilemma as Europe’s AI gold rush meets grid reality:  At MIPIM 2026, the language around data centres was bullish, but the message beneath it was more sober. Europe is in the middle of a major expansion cycle driven by AI, cloud computing, 5G and sovereign data ambitions. Capital is flowing, new markets are emerging and investors are scanning the continent for opportunity. Yet, behind the optimism, is the knowledge that the sector’s future success will be determined by planning and access to power…’ https://breakingground.news/mipim-2026-dublins-data-centre-dilemma-as-europes-ai-gold-rush-meets-grid-reality/ 

INTERNATIONAL 

Picture of Carol Tallon

Carol Tallon