The number of Irish businesses that view housing as the biggest barrier to Ireland’s competitiveness had continued to grow and now accounts for 48 per cent of those surveyed for a new report. This represents sharp growth in the past year as just one third of businesses identified housing as the top priority this time last year. Housing was also highlighted as the most crucial infrastructure priority for businesses, followed by energy infrastructure. Despite the challenges coming down the track, Irish businesses are more optimistic for the next year than in the survey’s previous years. One third of business leaders expect the economy to grow in the next year, with just 14 per cent anticipating a decline.

Source: The Irish Times December 11, 2025 21:32 UTC