Young Gaeltacht Residents Face Century-Long Housing Wait

Young people in the Gaeltacht face a staggering wait of over 100 years to buy a house if current construction rates persist. This alarming projection comes from a submission made by Conradh na Gaeilge as part of the consultation process for the country’s rural development policy, titled ‘Our Rural Future’. The report highlights that while housing challenges are widespread across Ireland, they are particularly pronounced in Gaeltacht communities where the Irish language is the primary means of communication.

The submission points out that the shortage of housing options for residents aged 18-44 is dire. It estimates that it will take approximately 101 years for young people in the Gaeltacht to secure a home, compared to 41 years in nearby Gaeltacht service towns, such as An Daingean and Letterkenny. This analysis is based on a comprehensive assessment of housing supply against the number of people without homes, focusing on overall delivery rather than income or affordability.

According to the 2022 census, there are 62,949 individuals aged 18-44 in Gaeltacht service towns who do not own or rent a home, alongside 26,333 in the Gaeltacht itself. The report outlines the housing needs for the next decade, revealing that to meet the EU average housing target of 50 homes per 100 people by 2034, the Gaeltacht requires 13,000 houses over the next ten years, translating to approximately 1,300 houses per year.

The situation becomes even more critical when considering future job growth. The submission suggests that maintaining a 30% growth in jobs over the next decade would necessitate an additional 18,500 houses for 37,000 new jobs, which brings the total demand to 31,500 houses by 2034, averaging 3,150 houses per year.

Conradh na Gaeilge cites an analysis commissioned by Údarás na Gaeltachta, conducted by the firm Irish Sustainable Homes, which has experience in housing developments. The firm’s findings reveal that only a few areas in the country, such as Mulhuddart and Blanchardstown in Dublin, demonstrate an adequate supply of housing. In these areas, over 10,000 young residents have been waiting up to eight years for housing.

To tackle these pressing issues, Conradh na Gaeilge proposes that the Gaeltacht be included in the Living Cities scheme, which currently offers tax credits of up to €200,000 over five years to encourage home purchases in urban centers. The organization advocates extending this scheme to cover Gaeltacht areas and offshore islands. This initiative aims to attract young people back to their communities by making homeownership more accessible.

In addition to the tax incentives, the submission highlights the importance of collaboration with the Department of Housing and the Department of Finance to create a tax credit for young people already living in the Gaeltacht. The proposal specifies that these individuals should have a proficiency in Irish at the B2 level, as defined by the Common European Framework of Reference, which aligns with the requirements of the Leaving Certificate.

The report also addresses a recent decline in the number of families raising children through Irish in these communities. It suggests that had housing demand been adequately met over the past decade, an additional 37,000 children could have been raised in the Gaeltacht, based on the assumption of two children per household.

Moreover, the submission calls for the urgent publication of a National Planning Statement for Housing in the Gaeltacht, a promise that has yet to be fulfilled since early 2021. Many, including Conradh na Gaeilge, expressed disappointment when the recent Housing Plan indicated this statement would not be released until the first half of 2027.

As the consultation process for ‘Our Rural Future’ concluded recently, Minister for Rural, Community and Gaeltacht Development Dara Calleary is expected to take these findings into account while preparing the next edition of the policy. The urgency of addressing the housing crisis in the Gaeltacht is clear, with implications not only for the current residents but for the preservation of the Irish language and culture in these areas.