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

Message from Carol Tallon: 

I could tell you about the latest moves by Housing Minister James Browne this week to reform and accelerate social housing delivery, including a stronger MMC mandate and the ‘name and shame’ publication of a local authority housing delivery league table; or the rationale behind the raising of price ceiling for the Help to Buy scheme; or perhaps the call from MEP Ciaran Mullooly for emergency legislation as he questioned LDA chief John Coleman and developer Michael O’Flynn in Brussels before the Special committee on the Housing Crisis in the European Union – but one of Ireland’s most respected homebuilders, Brian McKeon of MKN Property Group, articulates it best in a frank interview with the Business Post as the company cuts its workforce by half in response to shrinking pipeline: 

“We’ve run out of work… I bought €1 million worth of precast walls, which are now sitting up in a field in Cavan. That’s how certain I was the deal would be done. That’s how fucked up this system is”

PROPERTY DISTRICT PRESS OFFICE 

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

• “We Are Failing a Generation”: MEP Calls for Emergency Legislation to Tackle Housing Crisis: Ciaran Mullooly, Vice Chair of the Special committee on the Housing Crisis in the European Union questions Michael O’Flynn, O’Flynn Group, and John Coleman, The Land Development Agency, on what further measures need to be considered to accelerate the delivery of homes and critical infrastructure as a matter of urgency. Read in full 👉  https://breakingground.news/we-are-failing-a-generation-mep-calls-for-emergency-legislation-to-tackle-housing-crisis/ 

• Government Fast-Tracks Further Emergency Housing Reforms, Including #MMC Mandate: “Companies with expertise in offsite and other Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) — and established supply chains — stand to benefit particularly, as the Minister explicitly mandated greater use of offsite and innovative construction techniques, which makes absolute sense given the urgent need to ramp up the delivery of all types and tenures of housing at scale…” https://breakingground.news/government-fast-tracks-further-emergency-housing-reforms/

• Housing target should be revised up to 60,000 homes per year, Dublin Chamber says: The group said businesses are ‘increasingly dissatisfied and frustrated’ by the lack of delivery of infrastructure by the Government https://www.irishtimes.com/business/2025/07/03/housing-target-should-be-revised-up-to-60000-homes-per-year-dublin-chamber-says/

• Ringfence €500m annually for water services, builders tell Government: Construction Industry Federation budget submission warns on infrastructure gap https://www.irishtimes.com/business/2025/07/04/ringfence-500m-annually-for-water-services-builders-tell-government/

• Price ceiling on homes raised on State-supported scheme for buyers https://www.independent.ie/business/money/price-ceiling-on-homes-raised-on-state-supported-scheme-for-buyers/a2005337871.html

• Minister James Browne TD and Minister John Cummins TD announced a €42m increase in the Local Property Tax (LPT) ‘baseline funding’ to Local Authorities. Each authority will see an increase in LPT income in line with the expected increase in yield in their area https://bit.ly/3TPqrtA

• Dublin City Council delivered less than half of its new-build targets – as ‘league table’ for local authorities revealed https://m.independent.ie/irish-news/dublin-city-council-delivered-less-than-half-of-its-new-build-targets-as-league-table-for-local-authorities-revealed/a1817116385.html

• Some €394m invested in Irish commercial property market in second quarter: Overall €940m spend for first six months comes in at less than half 10-year historical average of €1.9bn https://www.irishtimes.com/property/commercial-property/2025/07/01/some-394m-invested-in-irish-commercial-property-market-in-second-quarter/

• A fifth of homes not sold to individuals and why property tax can help fix the housing crisis https://www.irishtimes.com/business/2025/07/02/a-fifth-of-homes-not-sold-to-individuals-and-why-property-tax-can-help-fix-the-housing-crisis/

• Private rental sector has lost more than 43,000 properties over past five years: Ireland’s ‘stringent rent controls’ have led investors to seek more favourable markets in recent years, according to Sherry FitzGerald https://www.irishtimes.com/business/2025/06/30/more-than-43000-properties-have-exited-private-rental-sector-over-past-five-years/

• Government measures designed to drive apartment building are ‘not as effective in practice as envisaged’: Minister to extend lifespan of State-owned property development lender by two years https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/housing-planning/2025/06/30/government-measures-designed-to-drive-apartment-building-are-not-as-effective-in-practice-as-envisaged/

• Genevieve McGuirk appointed new chief executive of Ipav https://www.businesspost.ie/companies/genevieve-mcguirk-appointed-new-chief-executive-of-ipav/

• Eamon Ryan appointed chairman of EU housing advisory board: Former Green Party leader was chosen from ‘over 200 qualified’ candidates https://www.irishtimes.com/politics/2025/07/01/eamon-ryan-appointed-chairman-of-eu-housing-advisory-board/

• One major sanction imposed after more than 270 complaints against property agents: Property Services Regulatory Authority reports slight drop in complaints against auctioneers and other agencies https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2025/06/30/one-major-sanction-imposed-after-more-than-270-complaints-against-property-agents/

• Local support for vacant housing grant to include commercial properties https://www.northernsound.ie/news/local-support-for-vacant-housing-grant-to-include-commercial-properties-262475

• Wicklow council paid €613,000 for beach land as it was cheaper than going to court https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/wicklow-council-paid-e613000-for-beach-land-as-it-was-cheaper-than-going-to-court-1780204.html

• Derelict property owners in Mayo ‘will be pursued’: Compulsory purchase of vacant homes and derelict properties will be pursued in cases where owners do not engage with the council to bring them back into residential use https://www.westernpeople.ie/news/derelict-property-owners-in-mayo-will-be-pursued_arid-62582.html

• Census 1911: Dublin housing was in crisis a century ago with one-room tenements comprising 60% of homes: Figures released by CSO reveal the appalling state of Dublin’s housing in the years before independence https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2025/07/03/census-1911-dublin-housing-was-in-crisis-a-century-ago-with-one-room-tenements-comprising-60-of-homes/

• I spent a day thatching a 350-year-old roof — it nearly broke me: The ancient craft, essential to Britain’s chocolate-box homes, faces a crisis. Can this unique skill survive shortages of materials and makers? https://www.thetimes.com/life-style/property-home/article/i-spent-a-day-thatching-a-350-year-old-roof-it-nearly-broke-me-t0mq3ns3t

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.

• Permission given for new office block on Dublin City Arts Centre site; Scheme had faced opposition including from local school, OPW and An Taisce https://www.irishtimes.com/business/2025/07/03/permission-given-for-new-office-block-on-dublin-city-arts-centre-site/

• Major upgrades in Lucan include redevelopment of Village Green https://www.echo.ie/major-upgrades-in-lucan-include-redevelopment-of-village-green/

• Public Consultation: Mary Street, Douglas Street and White Street Public Realm Enhancement Scheme https://www.publicconsultation.ie/haveyoursay/public-consultation-mary-street-douglas-street-and-white-street-public-realm-enhancement-scheme

• Inside West Cork Music’s €20m plan for a new cultural and performance hub in Bantry: Three West Cork festivals are now worth €4.74m to the local economy — and a €20m music hub is next https://www.irishexaminer.com/business/companies/arid-41659184.html

• Galway County Council has been accused of ‘mislaying’ 45 acres of picturesque coastal land by the man who had to engage in a seven-month battle – just to get them to admit their ownership of it: “I was ignored. There was no response; no responsibility; no way to submit a genuine query.” https://connachttribune.ie/council-mislays-45-acres-of-picturesque-coastal-land-576/

• A host of heritage groups from across the city and county put their best foot forward when members of the Heritage Council visited Galway to witness the impact its funding was having on the ground. https://connachttribune.ie/heritage-council-visits-galway-city-and-county-to-see-community-led-heritage-projects-first-hand/

• Major milestone as Salthill development strategy moves to next stage https://connachttribune.ie/major-milestone-as-salthill-development-strategy-moves-to-next-stage/

• ‘Vital’ new life for West Limerick’s old and derelict buildings amid €1.2 investment https://m.independent.ie/regionals/limerick/news/vital-new-life-for-west-limericks-old-and-derelict-buildings-amid-12-investment/a1593408858.html 

• Two community projects in County Meath have received approval from Meath County Council for local infrastructure in Kilcloon and Carnaross https://m.independent.ie/regionals/meath/news/meath-county-council-grants-planning-permissions-for-two-community-developments/a1817954042.html 

• ‘I see a very bright future’ Laois town regeneration officer focuses on Mountmellick: New hope, infrastructure and green spaces for town hit by unemployment https://www.leinsterexpress.ie/news/mountmellick-/1831104/i-see-a-very-bright-future-laois-town-regeneration-officer-focuses-on-mountmellick.html

• Contract signed for new dog park in Mayo town https://www.westernpeople.ie/news/contract-signed-for-new-dog-park-in-mayo-town_arid-62630.html

Rural & Islands

• How rural Ireland is turning to vacant property grants for development: Grant is the most popular form of housing in nine counties and there are calls for it to be extended to multiple properties https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/housing-planning/2025/06/30/how-rural-ireland-is-turning-to-vacant-property-grants-for-development/

• Midwest Cork’s newly elected Mayor aiming to sustain fabric of rural Ireland https://m.independent.ie/regionals/cork/news/midwest-corks-newly-elected-mayor-aiming-to-sustain-fabric-of-rural-ireland/a798125537.html

CONSTRUCTION: https://breakingground.news

• ‘We’ve run out of work’: House builder MKN Property cuts workforce by half as pipeline dries up: Brian McKeon, construction director of MKN Property Group: https://www.businesspost.ie/property/weve-run-out-of-work-house-builder-mkn-property-cuts-workforce-by-half-as-pipeline-dries-up/

• Ireland’s housing crisis, part 2: A ten-point plan for the next six months https://www.businesspost.ie/property/irelands-housing-crisis-part-2-a-ten-point-plan-for-the-next-six-months/

• Consortium led by contractor BAM is to deliver a €380 million university campus project: The project, which will see the construction of five new buildings across multiple university campuses, is being delivered via a public-private partnership (PPP). https://www.irishtimes.com/politics/2025/07/02/childrens-hospital-contractor-bam-to-deliver-380m-university-campus-project/

• Former Irish Independent HQ to become nine-storey student accommodation block: The student spaces are to be used as short term lets during student holiday periods. https://www.thejournal.ie/former-irish-independent-hq-to-become-nine-storey-student-accommodation-block-6748368-Jun2025/

• DCC gives permission for Clonskeagh student housing: Bain-backed vehicle gets go ahead for 439 bed spaces near River Dodder https://www.irishtimes.com/business/2025/07/04/dcc-gives-permission-for-clonskeagh-student-housing/

• Permission granted for seven-storey hotel off Camden Street https://www.businesspost.ie/property/permission-granted-for-seven-storey-hotel-off-camden-street/

• Planning permission in Cork for 220-bed city ‘mega hotel’ appealed to An Bord Pleanála: Construction plans have been halted on a site at 9 Fitton Street https://m.independent.ie/regionals/cork/news/planning-permission-in-cork-for-220-bed-city-mega-hotel-appealed-to-an-bord-pleanala/a771060488.html

• Plans for 124 apartments in Douglas village appealed to An Bord Pleanála: Development resulted in several objections from local businesses and residents  https://www.irishexaminer.com/property/developmentconstruction/arid-41661953.html

• Property investment firm seeks land to build 250 new homes in Limerick: Fitzpatrick and Heavey Homes offers Residential Zoned Land Tax incentive on land sales https://www.limerickleader.ie/news/property/1840271/property-investment-firm-seeks-land-to-build-250-new-homes-in-limerick.html

• Fusion Logistics, a long-established family-run logistics and transport company, has announced the construction of a new 100,000 square foot warehousing facility at its headquarters in Annacotty Business Park https://m.independent.ie/regionals/limerick/news/major-boost-for-limerick-as-50-year-old-family-business-powers-ahead-with-huge-new-facility/a958564315.html

• Architect involved in Waterford’s North Quays regeneration project described the progressive project as “inspirational” and “leading the way” https://www.waterford-news.ie/news/leading-architects-involved-in-north-quays-speak-on-designs_arid-62964.html

• Big plans for Kilkenny former mart site can be a game-changer https://www.kilkennypeople.ie/news/columnists/1834508/editorial-big-plans-for-kilkenny-former-mart-site-can-be-a-game-changer.html

• Hotel approved for Kilkenny — but one major change has been sought: Pennyfeather Lane and Pudding Lane hotel in Kilkenny gets green light, with conditions on height, noise limits, traffic plan and archaeological monitoring https://www.kilkennypeople.ie/news/your-community/1836689/hotel-approved-for-kilkenny-but-one-major-change-has-been-sought.html

• Huge 70 room extension proposed for well-known Kildare hotel: The proposal was made further to previous planning permission applications submitted to Kildare County Council https://www.leinsterleader.ie/news/local-news/1836147/huge-70-room-extension-proposed-for-well-known-kildare-hotel.html

• Construction of 14 homes proposed for this Kildare site: The planning permission application was submitted by Durkan (Celbridge) Limited https://www.kildarenow.com/news/local-news/1839211/construction-of-14-homes-proposed-for-this-kildare-site.html

• Three-storey block of apartments proposed for Ferns Bridge area of Monasterevin in Co Kildare https://www.kildarenow.com/news/local-news/1841666/three-storey-block-of-apartments-planned-in-this-kildare-town.html

• Plans for new Lidl store in Wicklow refused for third time https://m.independent.ie/regionals/wicklow/wicklow-district/plans-for-new-lidl-store-in-wicklow-refused-for-third-time/a1909253523.html

• Shorefront development site on Carlingford Lough offers resi and nursing home opportunity https://www.businesspost.ie/property/shorefront-development-site-on-carlingford-lough-offers-resi-and-nursing-home-opportunity/

• Proposed 86-house development in Ballina has been refused planning permission by An Bord Pleanála following an appeal by a local residents’ committee https://www.westernpeople.ie/news/major-housing-scheme-in-mayo-refused-permission_arid-61733.html

• New proposal revealed for 47 homes on Mayo urban site https://www.con-telegraph.ie/2025/06/30/new-proposal-revealed-for-47-homes-on-mayo-urban-site/

• Killarney town land near 24,000 acre National Park offered for 224 homes at €9.5m: 13.5 acre Port Road site for sale with full planning for houses and apartments https://www.irishexaminer.com/property/commercial/arid-41662463.html

• Company behind Tralee housing development to seek planning for 84 more homes https://www.radiokerry.ie/news/company-behind-tralee-housing-development-to-seek-planning-for-84-more-homes-441533

• Cairn Homes tells Jack Chambers housing targets ‘challenging’ due to lack of large building firms https://www.businesspost.ie/property/cairn-homes-tells-jack-chambers-housing-targets-challenging-due-to-lack-of-large-building-firms/

• Winthrop investors split €85m payout day before Blackstone deal: Shareholders including senior management team received dividend https://www.thetimes.com/world/ireland-world/article/winthrop-investors-85m-payout-tm5dhsdxd

• Construction site managers and safety leads, are your site induction videos available in all of the languages that your on-site team speak and/or understand?

If not, the below article from Ronan Morris of Together Digital showing the risk of not communicating safety standards and expectations in the relevant language might change your mind… ‘Why a Recent Irish Court Case Is a Wake-Up Call for Workplace Safety Training’ https://www.togethervideo.ie/latest/why-a-recent-irish-court-case-is-a-wake-up-call-for-workplace-safety-training 

• ‘Are we facing into a recession? Do we need to batten down the hatches?’ – Builders’ merchant firm urges bolder housing policy amid US tariff fears https://m.independent.ie/business/irish/are-we-facing-into-a-recession-do-we-need-to-batten-down-the-hatches-builders-merchant-firm-urges-bolder-housing-policy-amid-us-tariff-fears/a911773619.html 

Breaking Ground News: Appointments & #ConstructionCareers

• 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/

PODCAST:  

 Construction safety – we say all the right things but are we doing all the right things?

Host Carol Tallon put this question to Sean Downey, Director of Safety, Education and Training with the Construction Industry Federation (CIF) on the latest Breaking Ground: Construction News show on iProperty Radio, in advance of CIF’s Construction Safety Campaign 2025

Including: Safety Alerts – Predictive Insights to Enhance Onsite Construction Safety

Listen back to this episode in full: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5COeaQhd7fwoG9wT6BCQJH?si=Kssx8W0HRS6ZKWG1eWRP4w  

Watch back: 

Produced by Katie Tallon, 

All Breaking Ground episodes – https://ipropertyradio.com/breaking-ground/

Check out all other iProperty Radio podcasts – https://ipropertyradio.com/

REAL ESTATE: www.irishrealestate.news

Residential 

• Ireland’s housing league table: Check if your area met target for new social homes https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/irelands-housing-league-table-check-if-your-area-met-target-for-new-social-homes-1778929.html

• Who would want to be a landlord? Tighter regulation and higher borrowing costs have left buy-to-let investors struggling to make a profit on their properties and forced some from the market https://www.thetimes.com/world/ireland-world/article/landlord-ireland-regulation-borrowing-costs-n7hjmc562

• Prime south Dublin residential investment guiding at €4.75m: Fitzwilliam Court in Mount Merrion currently generating €203,580 in annual rental income https://www.irishtimes.com/property/commercial-property/2025/07/02/prime-south-dublin-residential-investment-guiding-at-475m/

• An Coimisiún Pleanála has refused planning permission for a new home on the grounds of “one of the greatest Irish houses of the 20th century”, Tallon House on Golf Lane in Foxrock https://www.irishtimes.com/business/2025/07/03/planning-permission-refused-for-new-home-on-grounds-of-tallon-house-in-foxrock/

• De Blacam and Meagher-designed townhouse in Sandymount for €850,000: Spacious end-terrace two-bedroom home off Herbert Road https://www.irishtimes.com/property/residential/2025/07/04/de-blacam-and-meagher-designed-townhouse-in-sandymount-for-850000/ 

• From tired bedsits to bright family home on a budget in Dublin 9: School secretary got creative to resurrect an Edwardian property in Glasnevin https://m.independent.ie/life/home-garden/homes/from-tired-bedsits-to-bright-family-home-on-a-budget-in-dublin-9/a21030993.html  

• Five homes on view this week in Dublin and Wicklow from €485,000: New to the market in Rialto, Kilcoole, Blackrock, Rathfarnham and Beaumont https://www.irishtimes.com/property/residential/2025/07/03/five-homes-on-view-this-week-in-dublin-and-wicklow-from-485000/ 

• These stunning new homes are now available in Waterford City: One, two, three and four bedroom new builds now available https://www.waterfordlive.ie/news/home/1834229/pictures-these-stunning-new-homes-are-now-available-in-waterford-city.html 

• What will €325,000 buy in Kinsale and Co Kilkenny? A 300-year-old cottage with a large garden in Kinsale or a dormer cottage with gorgeous gardens and outbuildings outside Gowran village? https://www.irishtimes.com/property/residential/2025/06/30/what-will-325000-buy-in-kinsale-and-co-kilkenny/

• PLANS for Ennis’ largest single housing development have been lodged within the past week: Glenveagh Homes Limited have applied for planning permission for a large-scale residential development comprising of 300 houses. https://www.clareecho.ie/plans-lodged-for-ennis-largest-single-housing-development/

Property of the week 

Some homes look like they should be written about in novels. Luckily for the owners of The Retreat in Lough Gur, Co Limerick, it’s exactly that. https://extra.ie/2025/07/04/property/limerick-the-retreat-3-75million

Commercial 

• From caution to confidence: Commercial property spend surges in H1 https://www.businesspost.ie/property/from-caution-to-confidence-commercial-property-spend-surges-in-h1/

• Retail sales decline in May as department stores suffer the most: Volume retreats by 0.6 per cent in May, though still advanced by 1.6 per cent in the past 12 months https://www.irishtimes.com/business/2025/06/30/retail-sales-decline-in-may-as-department-stores-suffer-the-most/

• Tallaght industrial and office property guiding at €3.25m: Unit 5, Broomhill Business Complex, comes with large, gated yard and 27 car-parking spaces https://www.irishtimes.com/property/commercial-property/2025/07/02/tallaght-industrial-and-office-property-guiding-at-325m/

• French investor pays €47.2m for Smithfield office block: Dublin 7 property, which last sold for €57m in 2019, is fully occupied with 90 per cent of space let to the OPW https://www.irishtimes.com/property/commercial-property/2025/07/02/french-investor-pays-472m-for-smithfield-office-block/

• French fund pays €12.8m for Dunnes Stores warehouse facility in Dublin 15: Unit 1 Stadium Business Park last sold for €8.65m in 2017 https://www.irishtimes.com/property/commercial-property/2025/07/02/french-fund-pays-128m-for-dunnes-stores-warehouse-facility-in-dublin-15/?

• Private investors pay €4.75m for medical-use portfolio: Four properties in Dublin, Kildare and Clare are all let to Centric Health https://www.irishtimes.com/property/commercial-property/2025/07/02/private-investors-pay-475m-for-medical-use-portfolio/

• Cork City’s landmark Roches Stores building to be split into retail units under new plans: Planning lodged to revive Cork’s former Roches Stores with Elverys and new retailers as key tenants; trading could begin by Christmas 2025 https://www.irishexaminer.com/property/developmentconstruction/arid-41663216.html

• IKEA to open big new store and showroom in Munster this month https://www.corkbeo.ie/news/local-news/ikea-open-big-new-store-31989763 

• Prominent Mayo town centre property linked with new retail investment https://www.con-telegraph.ie/2025/06/30/prominent-mayo-town-centre-property-linked-with-new-retail-investment/

PODCAST: The Property Roundup on iPropertyRadio.com

Building the Next Generation of Mortgage Technology

In the latest ‘Property Roundup’ on iProperty Radio, we come to you from the tech HQ of OnlineApplication.com with founder Karl Deeter. We discuss why brokers handle about half of Ireland’s mortgage market and provide better outcomes for buyers than going direct to banks.

He also criticises Ireland’s planning system and NIMBY-ism, noting the country’s ability to solve housing emergencies when motivated (COVID and Ukrainian refugee accommodation) and questions why we are not applying the same urgency to the housing crisis now.

* OnlineApplication is changing Ireland’s mortgage industry by creating technology that processes applications in under 30 minutes with approvals often coming within an hour.

Check out OnlineApplication 👉 https://www.onlineapplication.io/

Watch: https://youtu.be/u5N229jJkIM?si=0wUTxc0AaxaOcZ6b 

Listen: https://open.spotify.com/show/5EyzgZSvR4hFk6umOWyDCv?si=25bae6aa51994a2d&nd=1&dlsi=d857a2b8f4904b7a

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

All Property Round Up episodes – https://ipropertyradio.com/property-roundup/

FACEBOOK group for homebuyers and investors in Ireland 2024: https://www.facebook.com/groups/IrishPropertyBuyers/ 

Further property resources at: https://www.amazon.com/Carol-Tallon/

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

Proptech Ireland is updating the database of 2025 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

• Ronan Group and our partners Oaktree Capital and Lioncor want to create an innovation district at our Glass Bottle development in Ringsend that puts Ireland on a global map. https://www.businesspost.ie/analysis-opinion/comment-why-ronan-group-wants-to-build-a-national-tech-incubator-in-ringsend/

• A collaborative approach can make Ireland a global location of choice for firms building AI capability:  Pragmatic approach to AI must bring together industry, Government and regulators https://m.independent.ie/business/irish/a-collaborative-approach-can-make-ireland-a-global-location-of-choice-for-firms-building-ai-capability/a688824065.html

• Craft My Street: young people reimagine Dublin with Minecraft in Smart Docklands pilot https://www.tcd.ie/news_events/top-stories/featured/craft-my-street/

PODCAST: The Proptech Hot Seat on iPropertyRadio.com

Reimagining Planning Through Innovation: What Ireland Can Learn from the UK Government’s PropTech Leadership and Housing Challenge?

In a recent episode of The Proptech Hot Seat on iProperty Radio, Proptech Ireland founder Carol Tallon chatted with Bridget Wilkins, Head of Adoption, Engagement and Innovation in Digital Planning at the UK’s Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). This discussion delves into one of the UK government’s most progressive and results-driven digital planning strategies—might this provide a blueprint for innovation in Ireland’s own housing and planning system?

Further details: https://ipropertyradio.com/reimagining-planning-through-innovation-what-ireland-can-learn-from-the-uk-governments-proptech-leadership-and-housing-challenge/ 

🎧 Listen back or watch the full interview with Bridget Wilkins on The Proptech Hot Seat, iProperty Radio available now on https://youtu.be/ccOhaWrUElE?si=RNNgOGH45FVk5gHW 

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/ 

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INFRASTRUCTURE, ENERGY, ENVIRONMENT & BIODIVERSITY

• Luas 2050 plans include two new circular lines on outskirts of Dublin city centre https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/luas-2050-plans-include-two-new-circular-lines-on-outskirts-of-dublin-city-centre-1778998.html

• National Development Plan investment in Dublin outstripping Cork by €30 billion: The Southern Regional Assembly was critical of what it described as an imbalance in investment. https://www.echolive.ie/corknews/arid-41660573.html

• Taoiseach has made clear in the Dáil that he believes the long-awaited Galway Ring Road “needs” to be built https://connachttribune.ie/taoiseach-insists-galway-ring-road-needs-to-be-built/

• A high-quality artificial bat roost has been constructed by the ESB and EirGrid to protect populations in East Galway. The roost which is a shelter where bats live, often in colonies, is in Ballynaheskeragh https://www.galwaybayfm.ie/galway-bay-fm-news-desk/high-quality-artificial-bat-roost-to-protect-populations-in-east-galway-197216

• Uisce Éireann boss: ‘Contractors drifting to UK market biggest threat to our plans’ https://www.businesspost.ie/infrastructure/uisce-eireann-boss-contractors-drifting-to-uk-market-biggest-threat-to-our-plans/

• Amazon Web Services says Dublin data centre plan will not have ‘significant impact on climate’: Proposed scheme delayed as An Coimisiún Pleanála receives third-party appeals https://www.irishtimes.com/business/2025/07/02/amazon-web-services-to-build-three-data-centres-in-north-dublin/

• Pat Keating of Shannon Foynes Port on its €500m expansion plans https://www.businesspost.ie/esg-energy/pat-keating-of-shannon-foynes-port-on-its-e500m-expansion-plans/

• Wicklow N11/M11 upgrade to be considered as part National Development Plan review https://m.independent.ie/regionals/wicklow/bray-news/wicklow-n11m11-upgrade-to-be-considered-as-part-national-development-plan-review/a1940274733.html

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INTERNATIONAL NEWS

• Construction comeback to outpace wider economy https://www.constructionenquirer.com/2025/06/30/construction-comeback-to-outpace-wider-economy/