A proposal to reduce the minimum size of studio apartments is among the initiatives Cabinet will review next week as part of efforts to motivate developers to construct more apartments, reports RTE.
Housing Minister James Browne plans to suggest lowering the minimum size for these units to 32 square metres, while also introducing a new standard size of 76 square metres for three-bedroom apartments.
Currently, one-bedroom apartments must be at least 37 square metres, while three-bedroom units are capped at 90 square metres, reports RTE.
Minister Browne will inform Cabinet colleagues that the suggested adjustments could reduce construction costs by between €50,000 and €100,000 per apartment.
He emphasized that there will be no compromise on fire safety, accessibility, or environmental regulations, reports RTE.
The existing requirement mandating a certain number of one-bed and three-bed units in each development is also set to be eliminated.
Under the current rules, 33% of apartments in urban areas must have dual aspect—meaning windows on two external walls providing multiple views, reports RTE.
Suburban projects must meet a 50% dual aspect standard, but under the new proposal, a universal 25% requirement would apply across all locations.
Existing guidelines also state that the majority of apartments must exceed the minimum floor size by 10%, reports RTE.
The proposed rules would lower this requirement so that only 25% of apartments must be above the minimum size threshold.
Sinn Féin housing spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin described the proposed changes as “utter madness” and argued they would not help solve construction viability issues, reports RTE.
Ó Broin warned that the measures would inflate land values and developers’ expenses.
He also argued that living conditions would deteriorate, particularly during a period of increasing rents, reports RTE.
Minister Browne countered by saying that the steps being introduced would significantly boost housing delivery.
Speaking on RTÉ’s The Week in Politics, he acknowledged that rents are excessively high but said the solution lies in “supply, supply, supply,” reports RTE.
He added that adjusting apartment construction standards would help make homes more affordable for buyers and more financially feasible for developers.
Browne said bold steps in planning were essential and that the new legislation would have a swift effect, reports RTE.
He emphasized the need to mobilize the private sector to construct more homes and said caution had gone too far.
“I think we over corrected since the crash and we’ve been way too cautious,” he said, reports RTE.
On the same programme, Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne said the proposed changes would “only incentivise more build-to-rent box units” that are neither financially accessible nor desirable to live in.
“They want affordable homes that they can buy or rent and that families can live in as well,” he said, reports RTE.
“I’m deeply worried that we’re going back to the Celtic Tiger and building units that families won’t actually be able to live in,” reports RTE.
Hearne argued that the Government is “failing to grasp the extent of this emergency and the extent of policy change that’s needed to address it.”
Meanwhile, Labour housing spokesperson Conor Sheehan insisted that only the State has the “deep enough pockets” to meaningfully address the housing crisis and must take on a larger role, reports RTE.
He also criticized the Cost Rental Scheme, calling it “flawed” and unaffordable, saying it should not be linked to market prices.
“We’ve cost rental rents approaching €1,700 and €1,800 a month. That should be tied to income,” he said, reports RTE.
Sheehan also warned that altering apartment design standards could create additional delays in planning and construction.
He argued it would cause even more confusion following the recent mishandling of Rent Pressure Zone reforms, reports RTE.
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