How To Make Apartments More Attractive To Irish Homeowners
Summary
Lurkin discusses the cyclical nature of Irish housing policy, noting that classism and cost-cutting measures have persisted from the 1820s to the present day. He critiques the post-2008 shift toward renting, arguing it conflicts with Irish cultural preferences for homeownership and the asset-based welfare system. The conversation also addresses the rise of expensive, rent-only apartments and the state’s failure to build adequate infrastructure, concluding that housing issues are fundamentally political rather than financial.
Topics discussed
Introduction to Lorcan and his book 'Housing a Nation'
Historical parallels in Irish housing policy from 1820s to 2020s
The shift from ownership to renting and security of tenure
Government policy vs. public preference for homeownership
Apartment construction, density, and affordability issues
Cultural attitudes toward apartments and management challenges
State competition in the housing market and social housing acquisition
Historical council housing sales and current spending inefficiencies
Infrastructure deficits and the political nature of housing issues
Impact of Thatcherism and the sale of council houses in Ireland
Global housing affordability and the conflict of asset-based welfare
Conclusion and book promotion
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