GALWAY is building less than half the number of housing units it requires each year, resulting in major staffing issues for companies and businesses across the city and county.

That’s according to a special ‘think-tank’ event hosted by Galway Chamber on local housing targets which spelled out the need for 3,000 residential units to be built each year – in 2022, the number of ‘completions’ stood at just 1,334.

Galway Chamber CEO, Kenny Deery, told the meeting – attended by senior construction and taxation representatives – that the lack of accommodation around the city and county was impacting on the ability of enterprises to hire workers.

“Four out of five local businesses say the lack of accommodation throughout the county is impacting on their ability to hire – rising to nine out of 10 for those companies in the tech sector.

“Additionally, seven out of ten Galway businesses recognise that the limited supply of housing is impacting on their ability to retain staff,” said Kenny Deery.

The meeting, which was co-chaired by Rachael Stewart, Director of Steward Construction and Emer Joyce, Partner with L&J Tax, heard of several ‘practical proposals’ which would enable the delivery of more houses in Galway.

These included the need for more businesses to start voicing their concerns about the housing situation as well as the creation of a short-term road map for residential zoning across the city and county.

There were also calls for the ‘fast-tracking’ of relevant public expenditure on housing and for more certainty around the delivery of necessary infrastructure such as electricity and water.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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