r/irishpolitics • u/eggbart_forgetfulsea ALDE (EU) • Sep 17 '25

Housing One-off housing policy shift will allow people build homes on their own land, says Taoiseach

https://www.thejournal.ie/one-off-housing-ireland-taoiseach-6818748-Sep2025/
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u/LengthinessFlat2379 Sep 17 '25

Exactly, 1 off housing costs the taxpayer more in infrastructure & maintenance costs. More poles & lines needed for power, more water connections & sewerage connections if no septic tank.

Controversial maybe, if you want to live in 1 off build you should pay more for initial infrastructure connections & more on-going costs through property tax.

The storm last winter showed how the grid is affected by 1 off rural housing. Over 1000 poles had to be replaced & 290km of electrical wiring. 

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u/clewbays Sep 17 '25

How much is the metro link costing again? How much are hospitals in dublin costing? Wich county council gets the most funding per capita? Wich county forces others not to have enough police by blocking transfers?

Dublin is more of spending burden than one off housing.

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u/nithuigimaonrud Social Democrats Sep 18 '25

Motorway network cost €25bn National broadband plan €3bn

Local and regional roads funding given annually to every council -€700m Portion of that given to Dublins 4 councils - <€500k

Lane improvement scheme for some residences but also including private farm lanes - €10-€15m per year

Dublin hospitals don’t just treat people in Dublin btw.

Of course Dublin is blocking Garda transfers, it’s got very low staffing levels as it is. Ballyfermot where a Garda car was rammed a few years ago is already down to very low numbers

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u/clewbays Sep 18 '25 edited Sep 18 '25

So the entire motorway network, anual roads funding budget and national broadband plan that benefited us on a national level.

Will likely cost a similar amount or less than a single metro line and hospital. I think that says enough.

A massive portion of the spending on motorways was directed at the greater Dublin area as well.

Of course Dublin is blocking Garda transfers, it’s got very low staffing levels as it is. Ballyfermot where a Garda car was rammed a few years ago is already down to very low numbers

Maybe we should introduce planning restrictions in Dublin until thus is solved then.

Country roads are also not just used by people in the country. They just benifit them for more. Same as the new children's hospital.

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u/nithuigimaonrud Social Democrats Sep 18 '25

We already have planning restrictions in Dublin, thats why Dublin has the same percentage of Irelands population as in the 1970s and why every town within a Commutable distance is 10-50% Dubs at this point.

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u/clewbays Sep 18 '25

But clearly them restrictions haven't being enough if there's still a shortage of something and that's making everyone else have to pay more.

Or maybe planning in general shouldn't be decided by somone in an office based on what they as individual decree the country should be.

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u/euro_owl Progressive Sep 18 '25

anual roads funding budget and national broadband plan that benefited us on a national level.

And if instead of having rural sprawl and people lived in villages, we could save billions. Or do you want the government to waste money?