Mullooly Addressed Housing Affordability in European Parliament
The European Parliament debated the proposed Affordable Housing Act to tackle rising costs.
Updated on Oct. 7, 2026 in Residential
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MEP Ciaran Mullooly addressed the European Parliament to discuss urgent housing affordability issues during a plenary debate. The discussion focused on the proposed Affordable Housing Act and its potential to provide legal certainty for local authorities.
Why it matters
The intervention was driven by concerns that climbing housing costs are undermining family stability and home ownership opportunities for young workers. The debate highlights the pressure to regulate markets effectively amidst broad economic strain.
A case study in Galway highlighted that the average home price reached €400,000, impacting a family with an eldest child aged 29. Mullooly represents a constituency encompassing 15 distinct counties.
The players
Ciaran Mullooly
He is an MEP representing the Midlands-North West constituency in the European Parliament.
Dan Jørgensen
He serves as the European Commissioner for Energy and Housing.
Thomas Byrne
He serves as the Irish Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence.
Hannah Clarke
She is a representative of St Vincent de Paul based in Navan, County Meath.
The details
Mullooly suggested addressing the crisis by examining national VAT and construction-related taxation. The proposed Affordable Housing Act aims to empower local authorities to better regulate housing markets.
Timeline
October 7, 2026: Ciaran Mullooly addressed the European Parliament during a debate.
2027: The European Commission plans to address the role of large investment funds in housing markets.
Culture Shift
The debate follows the legislative framework set by the Affordable Housing Act as policymakers shift toward state-led intervention in residential markets. This marks a departure from reliance on private market self-regulation toward an era of increased local authority oversight.
The potential changes to VAT and construction taxation could eventually influence the total purchase price of new homes for prospective buyers. If the Affordable Housing Act passes, residents may see local authorities take a more active role in stabilizing rental and ownership costs.
The takeaway
Legislative efforts are increasingly targeting the intersection of taxation and market regulation to address housing accessibility. Families facing high prices should monitor national policy changes regarding construction taxes as indicators of future affordability relief.
What happens next
The European Commission is scheduled to conduct a formal review of the role large investment funds play in housing markets throughout 2027.
Further reading
Explore more analysis of the current housing climate in our Residential section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Longford Leader.
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