Sir, – The Government continues to describe housing as an emergency, and rightly so. But the family in a hotel room, the young professional in their childhood bedroom, and the couple postponing their future see little sign of emergency governance. Housing cannot be left to the whims of private developers; the State must take direct responsibility for building, co-ordinating and delivering homes. Across Europe, governments treat housing as vital infrastructure, not aspiration. If housing is truly an emergency, it must be governed as one.

Source: The Irish Times February 20, 2026 18:02 UTC