DUBLIN, Ireland: Tánaiste Simon Harris has defended the Government after the Chair of the European Parliament's Housing Committee said this week that Ireland's housing crisis is one of the most severe and complex in Europe.

Italian MEP Irene Tinagli had been visiting Ireland in recent days to gather information. She said that evictions, big investment companies, and the rise of short-term rentals are all adding to the pressure on housing in the country.

Speaking on May 29 at the start of construction for 410 homes in Bishopstown, Cork city, the Fine Gael leader said he had not seen her exact comments.

However, he stressed that the number of new homes being completed in Ireland is well above the European average.

He said that Ireland has one of the highest completion rates in Europe and that he was unsure of the context of the criticism. He added that during his regular visits to Europe, including Brussels, he sees that housing is a challenge across all member states.

He said that during Ireland's Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the country would host a housing summit to share ideas and learn from others.

He made it clear that there is a housing emergency in Ireland, adding that too many young people feel the system is failing them. He said there must be zero tolerance for bureaucracy and unnecessary delays, and that rural housing guidelines need to be updated to ensure consistency.

He also said the Government must continue to support schemes like Help to Buy, noting that some want to end it, but he believes that would be wrong.

Harris said that everyone needs to work together to solve the housing crisis.

He said that regardless of whether someone works in local or national government or in a state agency, the housing emergency is a shared responsibility and requires collective effort.

He added that there are encouraging figures for new homes, construction starts, and planning applications, but stressed that progress must continue.

Harris said he was pleased to begin work on the 410 new homes in Cork.

He said the homes are funded through Home Building Finance Ireland, an agency within his department, and described it as a good example of cooperation between the Government, developers, and builders to increase housing supply.

He noted that 410 homes is a significant number and that the development will include a mix of housing types, which he said is very important. He described it as a positive step for housing in Cork.

He also referred to new mortgage figures from BPFI, saying they show strong demand from first-time buyers. He said this demand is largely due to the Help to Buy Scheme, which the Government fully supports, as it helps young people reclaim some of the tax they have paid to use as a deposit for a home. He said he was encouraged by these figures.

The Tánaiste also repeated his plan to change rural housing rules to make it easier for families to build single homes.

He said many people want to build their own home and clarified that he was not referring to holiday homes. He said he was talking about people from local communities who want to build on family land or nearby, but that the current planning system is inconsistent.

Harris said that decisions can vary between counties, with different outcomes in different areas. He pointed out that Ireland is a small country facing a housing emergency, and said enabling people to live in their own communities is important for balanced regional development.

He said that in June, the Government plans to agree on a new national planning policy to simplify the process, reduce bureaucracy, and create a consistent approach across local authorities. He added that the current system is unfair and is holding people back.