Immigration and Ireland - MEGATHREAD Mod Note Added 02/09/25

bored65 · 20-03-2026 12:01PM

I say housing is one contributing factor but it surely is not a root cause as there are plenty of countries with low birth rates and little to no housing pressure (eg Japan)

Mr. teddywinkles · 20-03-2026 12:11PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124307714#Comment_124307714

Labour use to be about the workers of the country long time ago. Think they need to change the name of the party

One eyed Jack · 20-03-2026 12:21PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124326540#Comment_124326540

I am not wasting my time debating the existence of the housing crisis with you again.

Thank goodness for that. I’m not interested in debating the existence of the housing crisis with you either. Highlighting migration as a key driver of pressure in public services is nothing new either, it’s also a key factor in alleviating the pressure in the public services I mentioned, and those I didn’t - like healthcare and construction.

I’m also well aware that housing and immigration are ranked almost jointly as #1 issues for voters in the country, and I also know that you know I wasn’t referring to voters, I was referring to the political parties which are spouting nonsense about reducing immigration as though it would have any positive impact on housing. It would not, it would more likely have an even greater negative effect on housing and public services -

https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2025/0830/1530834-reducing-immigration-unlikely-to-help-housing-crisis/

And as for what increased construction of affordable housing would do to the value of existing homeowners properties, well, they have every reason to be concerned about Government policy in relation to housing if Government were to get any hair-brained ideas about reducing pressure in the property market, lowering the value of their properties, especially for voters paying hefty mortgages.

‘Political fact’, where do you come up with this stuff? 🤨

Stephen_Maturin · 20-03-2026 12:29PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124326610#Comment_124326610

“and I also know that you know I wasn’t referring to voters, I was referring to the political parties”

Yes Jack I addressed that in my comment, the minister for Justice (a minster of an elected party of government) made the statement in regards to the migration driven pressures described. Don’t try and muddy the waters again.

And good, I’ve no more interest in trying to explain the housing crisis or the law of supply and demand to you than I do in explaining why 2+2 =4

Off you go

One eyed Jack · 20-03-2026 12:44PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124326634#Comment_124326634

Don’t try and muddy the waters again.

It’s not me is muddying the waters at all. You’re doing it with your vague references to what Government said about migration, without giving anything about the context in which it was said -

The document also says that integration of those who choose to make Ireland their home must be founded on respect for Irish social and cultural norms.

And it describes the current €2bn spend on international protection and temporary protection as "unsustainable" and it notes that over 50% of those accessing emergency accommodation are not Irish nationals.

The plan sets out discussion points for the development of migration policy and says that the primary function of the policy must be "to ensure that immigration to Ireland is sustainable, orderly and ultimately to the benefit of the people of Ireland".

The document also poses the question as to whether efforts should be made to reduce overall immigration "in light of its costs and benefits for housing and public services".

It notes: "Ireland already has one of the highest populations which was born outside of the State in the OECD.

"Slowing immigration growth will have an impact in reducing pressure on housing and other public services.

"However, consideration of this question should also reflect the impact this would have on restricting economic and labour force growth (for example in the construction sector), re-balancing an aging population, fiscal strain and ensuring the integrity of the Social Insurance Fund among other factors."

https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2026/0312/1563113-international-protection-costs-unsustainable-gov-warns/

That last part is the most important bit. It’s equally as vague as the rest of their nonsense, while still not coming close to the rhetoric spouted by the likes of Aontú -

https://www.thejournal.ie/peadar-toibin-ard-fheis-6978247-Mar2026/

That’s why I dismissed your ‘political fact’ nonsense, because it means nothing.

Stephen_Maturin · 20-03-2026 01:07PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124326674#Comment_124326674

Only 6.5% of all work visas issued in 2025 were in the construction sector.

https://enterprise.gov.ie/en/publications/publication-files/permits-by-sector-2025.xlsx
The idea that it’s migrants that are driving the building of houses is a fallacy. It’s literally untrue.

Not to mention it’s not an all or nothing system, we can stop work visas for delivery drivers while allowing for them in sectors of our own choice e.g construction.

You’ve literally quoted evidence of the government parties indicating migration as the source of pressure on these sectors and are trying to dismiss it because you think it’s “vague”.

An hour ago you were trying to frame this political fact as some fringe position, and then you yourself quote it from the horses mouth, from the elected government saying this. And still you twist yourself into a pretzel to try to disagree. It’s gas.

rgossip30 · 20-03-2026 01:22PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124325521#Comment_124325521

Present governments in the EU but that is changing .

One eyed Jack · 20-03-2026 01:38PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124326738#Comment_124326738

An hour ago you were trying to frame this political fact as some fringe position, and then you yourself quote it from the horses mouth, from the elected government saying this. And still you twist yourself into a pretzel to try to disagree. It’s gas.

Try and keep track of your own arguments instead of misrepresenting mine. This is what I dismissed as a fringe position:

It’s a truism that the housing crisis is going to negatively affect birth rates. People are less likely start families with a life partner when they’re stuck living at home.

Simple as that - doesn’t have to be some fringe incel cabal conspiracy or whatever that nobody is listening to anyway.

Also, the idea that migrants are driving the building of houses is not a fallacy, nor is it untrue. They have to live somewhere, and their money is as good as anyone else’s, regardless of their nationality. Developers aren’t likely to care about anyone’s nationality when their only interest is in the income they can generate from sales of properties. That’s what you don’t seem to get, while you accuse me of living outside of reality -

Dr Michael Byrne of University College Dublin says: "The entire anti-immigration argument is premised on the assumption that housing demand can be reduced without any impact on housing supply."

He argues evidence shows that about 20% of workers in the construction industry are migrants.

So, while less immigration growth might dampen some of the demand for housing it would also crimp the supply of new homes.

Dr Byrne says a reduction in immigration "could lead to a modest reduction in prices and rents, but this would, at least to some extent, be offset by reduced supply."

He says the impact of reduced immigration in terms of affordability and availability "would likely be reasonably small."

It would also impact on economic growth and key sectors like health and social care, which would struggle for skilled staff, he adds.

https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2025/0830/1530834-reducing-immigration-unlikely-to-help-housing-crisis/

That’s what Government are referring to in that last paragraph I quoted earlier in which I provided the context for your claims, thereby making the waters much clearer.

Stephen_Maturin · 20-03-2026 01:54PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124326820#Comment_124326820

”It would also impact on economic growth and key sectors like health and social care, which would struggle for skilled staff, he adds.”

Once again, this whole argument hinges on the fallacy that we are dealing in a binary all or nothing system.

It’s not a case of reducing all migration across the board, it’s a case of reducing migration that is surplus to current requirements.

Sectors like health, social care, construction do not fall into those categories, hence migrants with skills in these areas are more than welcome.
People outside of these sectors are not essential and therefore should not be permitted entry to the state to live in.

almostover · 20-03-2026 01:58PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124326866#Comment_124326866

I have to fully agree with you. It's completely lawful to grant work visa's to applicants for critical or high value positions e.g. nurses, doctors, tech workers, construction workers etc.

Why we need to import people to cycle around on bicycles with takeaway food because the native are too lazy to collect their own food is beyond me.

One2Many7ups · 20-03-2026 02:01PM

For the fourth year in a row immigration exceeded 100,000 - From that braindead RTE article above.

How brainwashed do you need to be to believe that continuing to import hundreds of thousands of people a year won't have an impact on housing availability and cost. Really what is wrong with people that they believe such blatant propaganda?

Unless they are snails who bring shells on their backs, each and every immigrant needs a place to stay, thus makes housing costs even more unaffordable to those already on the island.

iffandonlyif · 20-03-2026 02:08PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124326866#Comment_124326866

Once again, this whole argument hinges on the fallacy that we are dealing in a binary all or nothing system.

They parrot it incessantly. It’s a form of the ‘misinformation’ they so often decry.

iffandonlyif · 20-03-2026 02:13PM

Saw this circulating on Twitter. It’s very commendable of the fellow, but we as a country should not be trusting immigrants to make such adjustments on their own. They should be receiving instruction on cultural values as part of their visa application process.

Stephen_Maturin · 20-03-2026 02:19PM

@nick _delehanty on twitter this morning shows that 70 IPA companies have been given over 250 non EEA work permits. So not only are we importing IPAS but now we're giving work permits to non EEA people to run them too?

This is despite having access to a market of 450 Million people from the EU and 60 million from the UK. He has linked to department of enterprise stats. You can check them here. https://enterprise.gov.ie/en/publications/employment-permit-statistics-2026.html

InAtFullBack · 20-03-2026 02:44PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124326242#Comment_124326242

Absolute bonkers of a statement and typical of the far-left's position that everyone in the country is persistently 'oppressed' except for the White straight male who is the only true oppressor in the western world according to them.

To evaluate that low birth rates are solely down to women's choice is absurd - as if one had an insight into every Irish woman's thought process on their family planning detail.

Strangely enough, there are women in certain socio economic groups in Ireland, made up of but not exclusively of White Irish citizens who have no bother having lots of children. In fact the incentives for a forever council house plays heavily on that.

So, the lesson here is, incentivise child birth - but not just for certain socio-economic groups.

One2Many7ups · 20-03-2026 03:08PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124327015#Comment_124327015

It's not difficult to see that the government do not want people having children.

Dole 10 years ago was €188 a week, now it's €254. Thats a 35% increase.

Children's allowance 10 years ago was €140 per month, now it's.. well.. €140 per month. 0% increase.

Look at the increase in the cost of raising a child since then.

Contrast this to the billions they splash out on illegal immigrants every year.

The EU want Ireland to take more migrants, not to have children.

Boggles · 20-03-2026 04:11PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124327015#Comment_124327015

To evaluate that low birth rates are solely down to women's choice is absurd

No one said that though, did they?

The single biggest driver of reduced birth rates is the evolution of women's rights and women's reproductive rights.

So, the lesson here is, incentivise child birth - but not just for certain socio-economic groups.

Again, Scandivian countries have a fertality rate less than us.

So what tax burden are you personally willing to shoulder yourself to incentivise births here more than Scandivia?

Please be specific.

Boggles · 20-03-2026 04:13PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124326425#Comment_124326425

But it is a fact that our indigenous population is not growing at the rate it would be if the housing crisis was alleviated.

Sorry, but what rate "it would be"?

Have you actual data that backs up your point?

Goldengirl · 20-03-2026 04:20PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124326892#Comment_124326892

The " braindead article " quotes experts like

the chief economist of Goodbody Stockbrokers Dermot O'Leary -who says that based on the profile of people coming to live in Ireland it is reasonable to assume a future household size of 2.2 persons.

Mr O'Leary says the deficit in accommodation increased by 100,000 over the past decade alone.

He suggests two measures within the Government's control which could be used to tackle the housing crisis.

First, address the lack of serviced land with water and electricity connections, and second, tackle delays in the planning system.

Dr Micheal Byrne of UCD associate professor , lecturer in political economy at the School of Social Policy, Social Work and Social Justice. His work is focused on urban political economy, in particular the relationship between the financial system and housing

Source: University College Dublin https://share.google/vDFBLsAIWmsQy6zkk

How ' brainwashed' indeed that you discount people who are experts in political economy because they are contributing to MSM ?

Boggles · 20-03-2026 04:25PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124327085#Comment_124327085

That's fairly myopic assessment.

You left out.

Subsided Pre School.

Free Meals

Free Books.

New Baby Grant.

Extension of ages of Child Benefits.

Free GP Care

As well as numerous grants, schemes and credits available.

Boggles · 20-03-2026 04:26PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124326785#Comment_124326785

Name them.

A whole government is not going to be in on trying to make white people extinct.

So names please, be specific?

Phat Cat · 20-03-2026 04:33PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124326882#Comment_124326882

Even legal immigration is increasingly becoming a point of concern, particularly given the pressure it places on housing and healthcare systems. At the same time, Ireland continues to lose significant numbers of nurses, doctors, tech professionals, and construction workers each year, many of whom are being replaced by immigrant labour.

Outsourcing is not a new phenomenon, but it does appear to have accelerated recently. A growing number of Irish jobs are being outsourced, often to countries like India, an this trend may continue, especially in light of the recent EU–India trade agreement.

One2Many7ups · 20-03-2026 04:44PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124327300#Comment_124327300

"Experts" 🤣

Like all the experts that swore the economy was rock-solid in April 2008…

You'll find these "experts" are benefitting massively from continued mass migration through soaring house rents/prices and government contracts/grants.

You go ahead and trust the experts 🤗

I'll use my eyes, ears and brain.

almostover · 20-03-2026 04:47PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124327324#Comment_124327324

What is find strange is the parties of the left are championing this immigration strategy. A strategy that is embedding low pay, zero hours contracts and poor working conditions in our economy and society.

The likes of deliveroo is hardly a positive entity for the working class. Importing cheap labour via immigration just accelerates a race to the bottom.

Stephen_Maturin · 20-03-2026 04:53PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124327281#Comment_124327281

Yes I’ve loads of data from EU to South Korea, UK, Ireland, North America - the link between difficulty in accessing house and lower fertility is well established across the developed world. In fact many of the papers also note the positive effects of homeownership on fertility rates in addition.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12618740/

About one-third of fertility decline in South Korea could be explained by rising housing costs - higher costs and borrowing constraints result in delayed child rearing

https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=5368509

“Variations in housing prices affect fertility intentions and outcomes”https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1051137721000371

“Housing problems play a “central role in fertility postponement and decline”

https://www.landecon.cam.ac.uk/sites/default/files/2026-01/2026-02%20HXB.pdf?

Link between lack of affordable housing decreasing fertility rates noted at Trinity College over 10 years ago

https://www.thejournal.ie/financial-pressures-and-lack-of-affordable-housing-linked-to-low-fertility-rates-1226760-Dec2013/

Real world evidence from University of Toronto using US data posit that rising rents and the resulting fall in availability of housing for people resulted in as many as 11% fewer births, which is a huge effect. https://ti.org/pdfs/BuildBabyBuild.pdf

Knock yourself out

Boggles · 20-03-2026 05:11PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124327388#Comment_124327388

https://www.thejournal.ie/financial-pressures-and-lack-of-affordable-housing-linked-to-low-fertility-rates-1226760-Dec2013/

Affordability of housing in 2013? When we were bull dozing housing estates?

So what figure are you applying to Ireland?

What should our fertility rate be?

Bare in mind our current rate would be among the highest in the EU.

enricoh · 20-03-2026 05:21PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124327300#Comment_124327300

Just build more houses folks, listen to the experts cherry picked by rte, the Indo etc.

We've taken in an extra million people in the last decade or so n have got to the third most congested city in the world, ahead of Calcutta! Another million n surely we'll get first place.

Source: The Journal https://share.google/9BtYw5NHy4c4lxe5K

Stephen_Maturin · 20-03-2026 06:36PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124327433#Comment_124327433

Is that seriously it? I give all that evidence and you only come back with a lazy one liner that doesn’t even dispute what the link says?

Don’t know why I bother with you. Although your “response” says it all for everyone I suppose

PS I’m not applying any figure to Ireland aspirational or otherwise. Nor have I. My only contention was that our fertility rate is being negatively impacted by the housing crisis, I’ve given plenty of supporting evidence for that.