Irish Housing Research Articles

Reviews of Books

ATLAS OF IRELAND. Prepared under the direction of the National Committee for Geography. Dublin: Royal Irish Academy, 1979. vii + 104 pp. £45.00. Reviewed by: J. H. JohnsonNORTHERN IRELAND: A CENSUS ATLAS, by P. A. Compton. Dublin: Gill and Macmillan, 1978. 169 pp. £15.00. Reviewed by: B. W. LanglandsDISPLACEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT: CLASS, KINSHIP AND SOCIAL CHANGE IN IRISH RURAL COMMUNITIES, by Damian F. Hannan. Dublin: Economic and Social Research Institute Paper No. 96, 1979, 231 pp. £5.00. Reviewed by: Mary E. CawleyIRISH RESOURCES AND LAND USE, edited by D. A. Gillmor. Dublin: Institute of Public Administration, 1979. 295 pp. £11.99. Reviewed by: F. WalshIRELAND'S WETLANDS AND THEIR BIRDS, by Clive Hutchinson. Dublin: Irish Wildbird Conservancy, 1979. 201 pp. £4.95. Reviewed by: Stu DaultreyIRISH FORESTRY POLICY, National Economic and Social Council Report No. 46 (by Frank J. Convery). Dublin: Stationery Office, [1979]. 225 pp. £2.25. Reviewed by: M. B. ThorpURBANISATION AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN IRELAND, National Economic and Social Council Report No. 45 (by P. N. O'Farrell). Dublin: Stationery Office, [1979]. 128 pp. £1.65. Reviewed by: F. W. BoalAN ANALYSIS OF NEW INDUSTRY LOCATION: THE IRISH CASE, by P. N. O'Farrell. Oxford: Pergamon Press, Progress in Planning, 9 (3), 1978. 129–229. £4.00. Reviewed by: J. A. WalshI.D.A. INDUSTRIAL PLAN 1978–82. Dublin: Industrial Development Authority, 1979- 77 PP- £2.97. Reviewed by: M. J. BannonTHE IRISH HOUSING SYSTEM: A CRITICAL OVERVIEW, by T. J. Baker and L. M. O'Brien. Dublin: Economic and Social Research Institute Broadsheet No. 17, 1979, 272 pp. £4.50. Reviewed by: Andrew MacLaranTHE GEOGRAPHY OF IRELAND, by Joseph P. Haughton and Desmond A. Gillmor. Dublin: Department of Foreign Affairs, 1979. 59 pp. £2.50; FACTS ABOUT IRELAND. Dublin: Department of Foreign Affairs, 1979. 258 pp. £3.30. Reviewed by: S. WatermanTHE ISLANDS OF IRELAND, by Kenneth McNally. London: Batsford, 1978. 168 pp. £7.95. Reviewed by: F. H. A. AalenTHE TORY ISLANDERS: A PEOPLE OF THE CELTIC FRINGE, by Robin Fox. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1978. 210 pp. £3.95. Reviewed by: F. H. A. AalenTHE LANDSCAPE OF SLIEVE BLOOM, A STUDY OF ITS NATURAL AND HUMAN HERITAGE, by John Feehan. Dublin: BlackwatEr Press, 1979. xix+284pp. £10.00. Reviewed by: Colin A. LewisCOBH: ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE, by William Garner. Dublin: An Foras Forbartha, 1979. 86 pp. £1.50. Reviewed by: Kevin HourihanGEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF IRELAND GUIDE SERIES: I. GEOLOGICAL GUIDE TO THE DINGLE PENINSULA, by Ralph R. Home. First edition 1976, revisions to 1979. £1.00; 2. FIELD GUIDE TO THE CALEDONIAN AND PRECALEDONIANROCKS OF SOUTH-EAST IRELAND, by P. M. Bruck, P. R. R. Gardiner, M. D. Max and C. J. Stillman. 1978. £3.00; 3. A TRAVERSE IN THE NORTH-WEST IRISH CALEDONIDES, by T. B. Anderson, D. H. W. Hutton, W. E. A. Phillips and J. C. Roberts. 1978. £1.50; GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF IRELAND INFORMATION CIRCULAR 79/1: WATER WELLS. 1979. Reviewed by: R. J. N. DevoyTHE QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY OF BELFAST DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY JUBILEE 1928–1978: GEOGRAPHY AT QUEEN'S, AN HISTORICAL SURVEY, by John A. Campbell. Queen's University Department of Geography, Departmental Research Paper No. 2, 1978. 55 pp. Reviewed by: Gordon L. Herries Davies

Assessing the sustainable nature of housing-related taxation receipts: the case of Ireland

PurposeThe Irish fiscal position was significantly affected by the recent financial crisis. Budgetary surpluses quickly gave way to significant deficits post 2007, culminating into a lengthy excessive deficit procedure and entry into a formal EU/IMF assistance programme in 2010. Much of the deterioration in the public finances was caused by a sharp decline in property-related taxes because the Irish housing market rapidly contracted. In this paper, the authors quantify the extent to which disequilibria in the housing market can affect the tax take, finding significant implications over an extended period.Design/methodology/approachThe authors attempt to quantify the extent of housing-related tax windfall gains and losses in Ireland over a 30-year period as a result of disequilibrium in the housing market. This involves a three-step modelling approach where we relate property-dependent taxes to the housing market while estimating equilibrium in the latter before solving for the tax take consistent with that equilibrium. In so doing, the authors find that the fiscal position compatible with equilibrium in the housing market has at times diverged greatly from actual outturns.FindingsThis paper confirms the significant role played by the housing market in influencing both the tax-take and the overall fiscal position. The authors find that there have been a number of instances where excesses in the housing market have spilled over into fiscal aggregates, notably in the housing bubble period between 2003 and 2008. However, with the on-going adjustments in the housing market, it would appear that prices and volumes have overcorrected in recent years. Overall, much greater emphasis should be given to the role of the housing market in forecasting key taxation aggregates.Originality/valueThe recent crisis highlighted how domestic policy mistakes (both in terms of budgetary planning and financial market regulation) can greatly amplify economic shocks. Irish budgetary policy in the run up to the financial crisis of 2008/2009 was clearly based on unsustainable levels of housing-related tax receipts. This paper highlights the need for a much more granular approach in framing tax forecasts and in assessing the public finances by more explicitly factoring in housing market developments.

Credit availability, macroprudential regulations and the house price-to-rent ratio

Quantifying the real economy effects of macroprudential policy is important at a time when such measures are increasingly being promoted as central to the prevention of future credit and house price bubbles. Recently, like other regulatory authorities, the Irish central bank introduced regulatory limits on mortgage lending aimed at protecting greater financial stability. In this paper, we seek to examine some of the wider implications of these measures for tenure choice in the Irish housing market. We find that a reduction in the loan-to-value ratio, such as may occur as a result of regulatory limits, will lead to a greater demand for rental accommodation, prompting higher rents for a given house price level. While this result is somewhat incidental to financial stability, it does have significant implications for housing policy, particularly, at a time when the Irish housing market is confronted by an acknowledged supply shortage.

Evolution of the construction of Dublin City Council’s housing, with emphasis on wall construction

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present information on the construction technology used to build Dublin City Council’s (DCC’s) housing stock, with an emphasis on wall construction. Design/methodology/approach – The methodology applied was a mix of literature review and archival research. The research was undertaken as part of PhD research exploring the energy upgrade of a housing stock. Findings – The research uncovered details of the construction technology used in the construction of DCC’s housing stock, especially wall construction. These details disprove perceptions and assumptions made on the evolution of construction technology in Dublin and Ireland. Research limitations/implications – The research is limited in that it primarily focused on the period between 1887 to the introduction of the 1991 Building Regulations. Further research is required on both DCC’s housing stock and the Irish housing stock to identify the specific changes in construction technology. Practical implications – It is hoped this research will be a foundation for further research on the evolution of house construction technology, and housing stock asset intelligence in Ireland. Originality/value – This research provides information for researchers and professionals with an interest in the evolution of Irish house construction technology. This is an area which has not received significant attention in Irish built-environment research.

Did Monetary Policy Fuel the Housing Bubble in Ireland?

This paper provides empirical evidence of the role of the euro in the genesis of the recent Irish financial-economic crisis caused by a regional housing boom and its inevitable bust. By using a Taylor-rule, estimated by Generalized Method of Moments, we measure the appropriateness of the ECB’s one-size-fits-all policy rate for the Irish economy. A counterfactual analysis suggests that the Irish interest rate should have been on average 6.5% higher. In addition, using a multivariate housing model, we provide econometric evidence for the causal relationship between the low interest rate and the Irish housing boom. Under an alternative sovereign monetary policy, the average house price would have been 25 to 30 percent lower just before the housing bust in the second quarter of 2007. In addition, it shows that a monetary policy tailored to the needs of the member state is enough to prevent housing prices from dramatically increasing and suggests that it is not necessary to include a lean against house price fluctuations in monetary policy strategies.

Immediate and short-term housing experiences and situations of Polish newcomers to Dublin, Ireland

The aim of this paper is to reveal one tranche of primary findings from an exploratory study with post-EU enlargement Polish migrants as the cohort in study. Relatively little is known about migrants’ housing experiences in Ireland and Poles are one of the largest migrant groups living in Ireland. Drawing results from a conceptual framework using the notion of housing careers, information was collected from the cohort using a blended approach of questionnaire survey and follow-up interviews. The specific research question in relation to this tranche asked: (1) what are their experiences living in different housing situations at the beginning of their Irish housing career? The analysis therefore considers those characteristics that comprised their ability to access good quality housing in Dublin’s complex and dynamic housing market in the early 2000s. In relation to the wider international literature regarding concepts of home, this work makes a contribution to the deepening scope of migration research in Ireland.

Achieving a holistic view of the life cycle performance of existing dwellings

Models which fully evaluate the life cycle energy and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of national housing stocks are not reported in literature. Capturing a holistic view of energy and emissions of the residential sector is an important process that can lead to a more effective policy making. This paper presents a methodology which evaluates the life cycle energy and GHG emissions of retrofitting housing stocks considering all life cycle stages and incorporating, to the greatest extent possible, all upstream inputs.To achieve this, we developed a hybrid model of the existing Irish housing stock, comprising a process-based approach supplemented by input – output LCA for installation of materials and fit-outs and maintenance of appliances. Life cycle analysis (LCA) is a commonly accepted technique for evaluating cradle-to-grave environmental impacts of a product. Using an assumed 50-year life span in all cases, representative archetypes were used to estimate the performance along retrofitting, operation, maintenance and disassembly phases of the three selected house retrofit scenarios: BaseCase (no intervention), Current Standards (retrofitting to meet current building regulations) and Passive House (retrofitting to meet Passive House Standards).Results show that detached houses displayed the highest range of life cycle energy and exhibited the greatest absolute and percentage reductions compared to other house types, as life cycle energy ranges from 386 – 614 kWh/m2 yr, 225 – 261 kWh/m2 yr and 126 – 137 kWh/m2 yr for all house scenarios, respectively. Using these results an assessment is provided for policy makers on a holistic view of the life cycle performance of existing dwellings.

What Drives Ireland’s Housing Market? A Bayesian DSGE Approach

We study the drivers of fluctuations in the Irish housing market by developing and estimating a dynamic stochastic general equilibrium (DSGE) model of Ireland as a member of the European Economic Monetary Union (EMU). We estimate the model with Bayesian methods using time series for both Ireland and the rest of the EMU for the period from 1997:Q1 to 2008:Q2. We find that housing preference and technology shocks are the main drivers of fluctuations in house prices and residential investment. A standard regression analysis shows that a good part of the variation of housing preference shocks can be explained by unmodeled demand factors that have been considered in the empirical literature as important determinants of Irish house prices.

Price Signals and Bid-Ask Spreads in an Illiquid Market: The Case of Residential Property in Ireland, 2006-2011

How legitimate is it to use asking price information in the absence of transactions prices? And how does the gap between the two vary over the market cycle? This paper examines these two issues by comparing two large datasets from Ireland's property market over the volatile period 2001-2012. It finds the two series extremely closely correlated, both across space and across time, suggesting that in illiquid markets, or in the absence of transaction prices, asking prices offer a very good proxy. The gap that exists between the two is decomposed into four parts, including a bid-ask spread and a 'selection spread', whereby those properties that ultimately find a seller are listed at systematically lower prices. A selection spread of 4% on average emerged in the Irish housing market after 2009. The estimate of the bid-ask spread ranges from 0-4% in 2007 to -8% by 2010.

State of the Irish housing stock—Modelling the heat losses of Ireland's existing detached rural housing stock & estimating the benefit of thermal retrofit measures on this stock

Ireland's housing stock has been identified as being amongst the least energy efficient in Northern Europe. Consequently, atmospheric emissions are greater than necessary. Government funded schemes have been introduced to incentivise the uptake of thermal retrofit measures in the domestic Irish market. A study of Ireland's housing highlights the dominance of detached houses (43%), 72% of which are rurally located and are predominantly heated with fuel oil. This paper investigates the economic and carbon case for thermal retrofit measures to the existing detached, oil centrally heated, rural housing stock. The study found the case for energy efficiency measures to be categorical and supports the Irish Government's focus on energy efficiency policy measures. Thermal retrofit measures in the detached housing stock have the potential to realise an averaged 65% theoretical reduction in heating costs and CO2 emissions for houses constructed prior to 1979 (coinciding with the introduction of building regulations) and around 26% for newer homes, thus offering a significant contribution (44%) to Ireland's residential carbon abatement projections and hence in meeting the EU's directives on energy and carbon. The greatest savings (36%) of Ireland's carbon abatement projections result from improving the energy efficiency of the pre 1979 stock.

The debt crisis in Ireland

Abstract This paper takes a multidisciplinary approach to analyze the current debt crisis in Ireland. It briefly reviews Irish economic performance from 1980 to 2008 and in particular the Celtic Tiger years. The paper looks at changes in the Irish money supply and its contribution to the Irish housing bubble and the subsequent economic problems facing Ireland. An estimate of the negative wealth effect in Ireland since 2007 is made. Given that Ireland is a small open economy, a number of other factors which are both domestic and international are considered in an attempt to explain what has happened in Ireland, where might Ireland go from here and what lessons can be learnt. These factors include: the theory of political economics, the principal-agent problem, the theory of optimal currency areas, the Balassa Samuelson effect, the dynamics of a capitalist economy, neo-liberalism, European monetary integration, international bond markets and ‘insurance’ that was sold to cover a Eurozone breakup. The Irish culture is considered to differentiate Ireland from other EU countries, in particular, Portugal, Italy, Greece and Spain.

Inside a Bubble and Crash: Evidence from the Valuation of Amenities

Housing markets and their cycles are central to understanding macroeconomic fluctuations. As housing is an inherently spatial market, an understanding of the economics of location-specific amenities is needed. This paper examines this topic, using a rich dataset of over 1.2 million sales and rental listings Ireland, from the peak of a real estate bubble 2006 to 2012 when prices had fallen by more than half, and 25 primary location-specific characteristics. It finds clear evidence that the price effects of amenities are greater than rent effects, something that may be explained by either tenant search thresholds or buyers' desire to lock in access to fixed-supply amenities. Buyer concerns would be most prevalent at the height of a bubble and thus would be associated with pro-cyclical amenity pricing. Instead there is significant evidence that the relative price of amenities is counter-cyclical. This suggests the Irish housing market bubble was characterized by property ladder effects, rather than lock-in concerns.

At the edge: media constructions of a stigmatised Irish housing estate

By triangulating analyses of content and reception with a focus on production, this article attempts to understand the dynamics of and underlying reasons for the media stigmatisation of place. The research described contributes to a body of work examining how mass media and other social forces factor in the creation of negative stereotypes that damage the reputations of the places in which the poor reside. The overarching framework of understanding, provided by Goffman’s theory of stigma, is complemented by two further inter-related theoretical approaches, namely Social Exclusion and Political Economy. Combining analyses of media production (practices), media content (discourses) and audience reception (beliefs, attitudes), we analyse the representation of one of Ireland’s most deprived public housing estates in the print and broadcast media. Having established the stigmatising character and impact of national and local media content via this tripartite methodology, we focus on identifying and explaining the media practices that serve to (re)produce the estate’s ‘spoiled identity’. Our analysis of journalists’ explanations for these practices identifies the commercial realities, which progressively influence media production, as directly impacting media producers’ relationships with, and depictions of, poor places. We conclude by examining debates regarding the potential for rehabilitating a spoiled identity.

The provision of rural local-authority housing and domestic space: a comparative North-South study, 1942-60

The provision of houses was identified as an important issue throughout Ireland in the aftermath of the Second World War or, as it was known in the South, the post-'Emergency' period. Housing need was quantified before the end of the war in both northern and southern Ireland and prioritised as a matter that required attention by both governments. This paper explores northern and southern Irish housing policy. It will provide a comparative analysis of housing policy formulation and implementation, North and South, with a specific focus on planning, the design of the domestic space and the construction of rural local-authority dwellings during the period 1942 to 1960. It will include a study of contemporary house designs available at the time as well as a number of designs actually adopted by local authorities and the Northern Ireland Housing Trust.

Second Homes within Irish Housing Booms and Busts: North-South Comparisons, Contrasts, and Debates

We examine the expansion of second home ownership in the two jurisdictions on the island of Ireland—the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The phenomenon has emerged more recently here than in many other countries. While the growth of second homes in Ireland can be explained by many of the factors which have contributed to rising second home ownership internationally, local factors distinguish the two jurisdictions both from each other and from other cases. We compare and contrast the situation in the two jurisdictions, while also locating them in an international context. We assess the impact of second homes on local communities, housing markets, and the environment in Ireland and highlight the key public policy issues arising in each jurisdiction.

Supply Response in an Uncertain Market: Assessing Future Implications for Activity Levels in the Irish Housing Sector

Abstract After ten years of unprecedented increases in both prices and activity levels, the Irish housing market has entered a period of significant decline. In 2007, Irish house prices, for the first time in recent history, experienced negative growth rates. Similarly, rates of house building began to slow appreciably and leading indicators within the housing sector suggest that house building will contract significantly in the years ahead to levels well below the record level of construction in 2006. The sustained increase in housing construction prompted by the rapid increase in prices resulted in the Irish construction sector assuming a position of considerable importance within the overall economy. A significant slowdown in housing activity could have far-reaching domestic consequences. In this paper, we use a recently developed model of the housing sector to gauge what the likely future supply levels of housing will be in response to the slowdown in demand-side pressures.

Interdisciplinary Aspects of Climate Change

Contents: Solveig Mimler/Ulrike Muller/Stefanie Greis/Benno Rothstein: Impacts of Climate Change on Electricity Generation and Consumption - Roy Manoj/Ellis Geraint: The Role of Cross-Disciplinary Models in Reducing the Intensity of Environmental Release - An Example of the Irish Housing Sector - Frank Helten/Undine Giseke/Silvia Martin Han: Adapting the Modern City to New Challenges - Urban Agriculture as a Way out? - Walter Leal Filho/Franziska Mannke: Policy-making in Climate Change - Experiences from the ASTRA Project - Michael Dutschke: The Climate Stabilization Fund - Global Auctioning of Emission Allowances to help Forests and People - J. David Tabara/Francesc Cots/Xingang Dai/Maria Falaleeva/Zsuzsanna Flachner/Darryn McEvoy/Saskia Werners: Social Learning on Climate Change among Regional Agents - Insights from China, Eastern Europe and Iberia - Dalia Streimikiene/Remigijus Ciegis: Climate Change Mitigation Policies: Costs and Effectiveness - Evangelos I. Manolas: Campaign Strategies by Environmental NGOs in the Negotiations on Climate Change - A.C. Warnock/C.G. Warnock: The Role of Sustainable Buildings in Climate Change Mitigation - Balint Czucz/Gergely Torda/Zsolt Molnar/Ferenc Horvath/Zoltan Botta-Dukat/Gyorgy Kroel-Dulay: A Spatially Explicit, Indicator-based Methodology for Quantifying the Vulnerability and Adaptability of Natural Ecosystems - Frank Vanclay/Peat Leith/Aysha Fleming: Understanding Farming Community Concerns about Adapting to a Changed Climate - Melissa Nursey-Bray/Tony Ferrier: Risk Assessment and Local Government, Tasmania: Applying an Interdisciplinary Approach to Climate Change Adaptation - Lionel Boxer: Positioning Oneself and Others to Resolve Climate Change - Michael Belau/Jane Korck/Hans Weber: Climate Change and the Impacts on Flood Events at the Frankische Saale - An Interdisciplinary Case-Study - Harri Moora/Viktoria Voronova/Alvina Reihan: The Impact of Municipal Solid Waste Management on Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Estonia - Karina Yager/Daniela Ulloa/Stephan Halloy: Conducting an Interdisciplinary Workshop on Climate Change: Facilitating Awareness and Adaptation in Sajama National Park, Bolivia - Sandra T. Marquart-Pyatt: Differences of Degree? - Public Opinion on Climate Change in a Cross-National Context - Anjali Helferty/Amelia Clarke/Rosa Kouri: The Campus Climate Challenge - Innovative Multi-Stakeholder Approaches to Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions at Canadian Colleges and Universities - Susan R. Kephart/Catherine A. Collins: Fostering Interdisciplinary Inquiry, Communication, and Action Among Diverse Populations - Nitin Chaudhary: An Assessment of India's Efforts on Education, Awareness and Capacity Building on Climate Change - Estelle Gaillard/Jo-Anne Ferreira: Engaging Australians on Climate Change - The Role of Education and Communication in Social Change - Sam Wong: Linking Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Technologies to Develop a 'People-Centred' Intervention Framework - B. Rothstein/A. Scholten/E. Nilson/R. Baumhauer: Sensitivity of Bulk-Cargo Dependent Industries to Climate Change - First Results of a Case Study from the River Rhine.

Breaching the Limits of Owner Occupation? Supporting Low-Income Buyers in the Inflated Irish Housing Market1

Abstract The Republic of Ireland broadly has relatively high rates of home ownership compared to the rest of western Europe, which are related to the longstanding, broadly targeted state subsidization of home purchase provided as part of an implicit tradition of asset-based welfare. During the 1980s, however, several of these generalist subsidies were abolished and the remainder reoriented towards enabling low income households to purchase a home, while the last ten years have seen unprecedented house price inflation. This article, which examines the operation of these low income home buyers' supports in five case study areas, reaches largely negative conclusions about their efficacy in the current housing market context. Despite efforts to increase transactions by introducing new schemes of this type, levels of use have remained static since the early 1990s. These measures have failed to stem the recent fall in the proportion of Irish households that own their homes. More seriously, widespread arrears on...

Strategic Choice in the Irish Housing System: Taming Complexity

This article examines the strategy choices of various agents in the housing system in the Republic of Ireland with a view to understanding the range of choices and the environmental factors that drive strategy and outcomes in the housing domain. Using a complex adaptive systems (CAS) framework, the strategic decisions in 50 different organizations are analysed to identify types of agents, strategies employed and decision factors. In addition, the system outcomes that both affect and are affected by agent behaviour are identified. The careful elaboration of each of these components of the housing system provides insight into the dynamics of a “whole” system of housing that spans public, private and non‐profit providers as well as those organizations involved in influencing housing policy. As such, the article applies a new analytical framework to the phenomenon of policy networks in housing.

From Boom to Bust? An Assessment of the Impact of Sustainable Development Policies on Housing in the Republic of Ireland

In many countries, moves towards sustainable development have been driven by a range of international agreements and by EU directives. This paper assesses the impact of international policy in this area on Irish housing policy and practice. To a large extent, Irish housing development has consisted of suburban sprawl on greenfield sites, low-density housing and one-off housing in rural areas. There is strong dependence on the car and very limited public transport. These unsustainable housing trends was exacerbated in recent years when the demand for housing increased significantly. The main response to this demand has been a substantial rise in the construction of housing. The paper examines the conceptualization and operationalization of sustainable housing in Irish policy and reveals that international developments have had some impact on policy but a very limited effect in practice.