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THE NEW GOVERNMENT faces an immense challenge in solving Ireland’s housing and infrastructure crisis. With a housing deficit of 250,000 homes and a population projected to grow by an additional one million people over the next 20 years, the next government must act decisively.
We at the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI) are calling for a radical shift in mindset in how we plan and deliver our cities and urban centres. The current system of planning and development cannot deliver the well-designed environments needed for our future.
It has left us with long commutes, high carbon emissions and social dislocation. These problems are compounded by high infrastructure costs and poor access to social services like schools, healthcare and childcare. It is time for a radical departure from the status quo.
The draft revised National Planning Framework highlights the need to build in targeted areas that prevent the unchecked sprawl that has marred much of our development to date. Ireland’s housing needs are not just a question of numbers but of community and climate obligations.
A new mindset is urgently needed – one that embraces not just the building of homes, but the creation of thriving, sustainable and inclusive communities. As the representative body for architects, the RIAI is calling on the incoming government to take bold steps to make this a reality.
Firstly, the government must provide the necessary resources to focus the public sector on achieving value and sustainable outcomes for people. This means ensuring that the houses we build are not only affordable but are the right homes in the right places and designed by qualified architects, collaborating with planners and engineers. A collaborative approach will ensure that we are not simply constructing housing but creating homes within sustainable communities that have long-term value and are future-proofed against climate change.
This government urgently needs to reform our dysfunctional planning system. The long-awaited Planning and Development Act is a first step. It must be implemented with the resources to support quality development and faster approval processes.
Uncertainty and inconsistency in the planning process create delays that undermine progress and confidence in the system – and we know this is affecting investment. Funding is moving to other countries that offer longer-term certainty.
We can change this through a collaborative forward planning approach where skilled urban planning resources are deployed to set out clear and agreed long-term visions and strategies for our people, our communities and our businesses, rather than the outdated current system where planning policy has in many cases emerged through a planning control and appeals process of individual applications. Many of our European partners have moved to this new model, and with the right leadership, we can also move quickly to adapt and embrace this new approach.
It is essential that we overhaul our procurement and public works contracts, which are burdened with excessive red tape and repetitive administrative tasks that add time and cost. The system must be designed to support long-term quality, foster innovation and remove obstacles to ensure small and medium businesses and practices who could help drive the housing delivery are not excluded but actively encouraged to participate. This alone could provide much-needed agile resources with the capacity, ability and energy to deliver many new projects.
The bureaucracy and inefficiencies in the current procurement and delivery processes are directly contributing to the shortfall in housing delivery, and this must change.
Adaptation and Reuse of older buildings can provide sustainable solutions to housing problems and also revitalise underused parts of our towns and cities. Many of our building regulations are developed for new buildings, they need to be quickly updated to reflect the new reality and actively support the sustainable reuse of our valued resources.
There are many wonderful recent examples of how we can do this successfully.
The government must ensure that all new housing is designed to create communities that are adequately supported by necessary public and community infrastructure. This includes water, wastewater, and energy systems, as well as public transport, schools, healthcare, and recreational facilities.
The rapid construction of housing estates in the 1990s and 2000s left us with housing, but not the vibrant, connected communities we need today. Our task now is to build and design homes that not only house people but are resilient and sustainable places that foster a high quality of life for future generations.
The scale of the challenge is undeniable, but the capabilities to meet it are well within reach if deployed correctly.
Ireland’s housing crisis is not insurmountable. To solve it, we must embrace a radical, coordinated approach – one that focuses on quality, sustainability, and the creation of vibrant communities, not just buildings. We have the financial resources to do this, what we need is a better way.
It is said that a country’s most valuable assets are its people and places. If that is the case, it is time for the next government to act decisively, boldly, and with a clear vision for the future. Only through such leadership and courage to act can we hope to solve the housing and public infrastructure crisis that is threatening to undermine our people’s health, prosperity and future.
Sean Mahon, FRIAI is RIAI President. The RIAI is the oversight body for Architects in Ireland.
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Club orange gets criticism for the ‘bits’ advertising but no criticism for this advertising. Double standards.
Hunky-dory anyone?
It didn’t fall under the remit of the ASAI, which they informed me of when I lodged a complaint.
@Sharrow You’ve too much time on your hands and little to be complaining about, god love you!
The point is valid. If this was a female, it would have never seen three months being displayed.
Pff it took less then two mins to fill out the ASAI online forum.
2 mins to know I have the courage of my convictions.
Fight the power Sharrow! lol
Why do people miss the point so much. Its a huge advertisement on a building in the city centre, forget the image itself (and the endless ads that use sex to sell). Imagine every building threw up an Ad for the likes of Coca-Cola, Sony, McDonalds etc. There has to be a line as to how much advertising can be used in public.
@Gary Teeling, that line is very well defined in this photo!
I’ll get my coat!
But the view was so nice! :(
Thats was my torso
Medred, I’ll cherish our time together forever!
A lot of disappointed Irish women I’d say!
And men lol
Yeah very. I’d eat me chips off that torso!
Me among them !!!!!
Girls ye won’t get a six pack eating chips
And with no chance of hair in your chips either
what’s the world coming to with the exploitation of men to sell products to.woman,shocking this.
regards outraged citizen
I think it was taken down because someone claimed that they had confused it with a missing persons poster.
Was that you Mick?
didnt they call you king ding a ling, tripod and t bone at school big Mickey
I feel like a piece of meat, with that guys -bits- plastered all over the place.
brilliant comment aidan I’m still laughing …..
Ha makes a change(; I’m vegan …….
What a joke. There are about a million tacky illegal banners all over Dublin shops at the moment that the DCC are doing nothing about. Every spar, newsagent and pub has illegal banners at the moment. At least this one was a ‘relatively’ tasteful banner to actually hide construction works (which is the point of them), like you’d see in any major city, as opposed to the tacky “Massive Price Reductions”, “Special Offers” , “Sale” etc, that are all over the place and have zero function except making the place look like a kip.
Applecrumble and Fish Headless torso man may go stand in the corner of shame with the Club Orange Girls.
Outdated nonsense , the business pays 750000 a year for the premises but can’t put up tasteful modern ad that promotes their own business and covers up scaffolding which is unquestionably more of an eyesore that what they are forced to take down , council need to modernise their outdated laws and procedures
It also stops dust from the renovations blowing out onto the street.
I do wonder what exactly it has to do with their product though..
The main focus was a bare torso, are Abercrombie and Fitch a gym franchise? A bodybuilding society?
I was under the impression they sold clothes, but I didn’t see much of that in the ad..
Shanti, I think it’s something to do with the word “fit”. Only fit people shop here, of you shop here this is what you look like.
And if course, any shop that advertises a bare male torso Is pretty much guaranteed to pull in the ladies, as well as the LGBT crowd.
The one here in London, the staff greet you at the door in swimwear. Really loud music. It is alot more expensive here than in NY.
No way, are you for real? Those poor guys.. As a matter of interest, what do they make the girls wear? Or do they?
Sounds like a fantastic place, I just can’t wait to avoid it like the plague..
This is common practice in Dublin. Companies throw banners up all the time and get away with it because once you take it down before your court date nothing comes of it.
they’re getting great advertising now!!!…good thinking from them!!
The only objectification of the male body I know of in Dublin and its been removed:( where’s the equality in that
If you think that’s the only objectification of the male body in Dublin then you’ve been walking around with your eyes shut.
Also, read the story. It was taken down because they didn’t have planning permission. It was nothing to do with the objectification of men. The objectification of men doesn’t attract comment, which is why you won’t find any stories on this website about a raft of complaints over this – unlike the Hunky Dory or Club Orange ads. Where’s the equality in that?
Welcome back Chuck; Evelyn more thinking before commenting
Stick a bikini body up instead.
A man in a Bikini? A mankini….
And they should put a nice t shirt on the over exposed Molly Malone statue too!!!!
Hmmmm. . . . wouldn’t be long before some mischief-monger got to work on that with a spray can I’ll wager.
Nearly got knocked down there a few times :) that’s a disgrace ! DCC were only jealous!!
gutted …sur it was a work of art …….lol
I’d say he has a really small willy………
Only a Fat man would say that :)
Can I have it for my wife, she said it would look nice on the ceiling.
Instead of the mirror? Is that telling you something?
They didn’t get permission off me to use my body in the ad!
there goes my eye candy on the way to work. i am outraged as all that man to me was a piece of meat.
you shouldn’t be ogling half naked models ,he has a brain and feelings too
Maybe the bigger crime is charging €750,000 a year for the site?
This comment probably won’t get seen but i was thinking Despite all sex sells and all the sexy body comments which i don’t particularly mind to be honest! But If anything it promotes a Healthy body, Healthy eating and Hard work, he didn’t get that from sitting on the couch watching re-runs of The Royal Family eating take away foods!!! you don’t see too many men with torsos like that, myself included :(
Did I say something wrong? If you Google the labour rights of Abercrombie and Fitch you will see they are not the most desirable to work for in some cases .
I feel objectified , anyone want to set a support group to discuss my victim status and offer scathing criticism of the matriarchy ….
So ghost estates, developments in flood plains and glasshouse monstrosities are ok, (while protected structures are let rot) but a giant advertising banner with fit bloke is not!
Stupidity of Irish mentality does not know its limits. Them, Abercombie cud not imagine that they wud get such FREE publicity in this clown country. Its 21st century but for some ppl its better to see vomit, excrements and junkies off their faces on the streets of our Fair City rather than a sexy torso billboard of the ad compaign of the company that going to pump in cash in our money starved economy. Well done Dublin City Council. Please more junkies and vomit instead, that stuff looks great on our streets. Bang on!
Except you don’t need planning permission to be a vomiting junkie…
great news
i couldnt care less about the content. but what i dont want is dublin to turn into a series of giant advertising hordings
I agree advertising hoardings do need to be monitored , in a measured way , but the point was did you see how it looks as bare work site scaffold , it’s actually less attractive !! The council did a deal with a poster ad company to get them to provide the bike scheme in return for selected ad space , the fact this particular type of ad on the business own premises falls outside that so tut tut the council are flexing muscle with their outdated laws
I thought we were trying to attract new business’s to this country. Not a very good message to send out to anyone thing of investing in Dublin!!!!
It’s funny, yesterday Mae McSweeney (amongst others) was loudly trumpeting her joy at the Club Orange ads being removed saying “As one of the complainants who wrote to the ASA over this – WIN!!!” and asserting her reason for complaining to be “I just happen to give a shit about gender equality.”
And yet, today; nothing. I hope her computer isn’t broken.
chuck I was merely having a laugh, you know that thing that can make you feel good? I’ve the ability to read but its hardly a seriers news worthy item so I decided to post a non serious comment
Prefer a nice Irish hairy chest!
I think this app should win world app of the year. Although i find there are some very opinionated people on here :) Think they will make back the 750000. put the banner back up for fecks sake
who asked your opinion briefcase?now about that teameeting
Guys, you really have a lot to be doing! I hope someone helps you——– out of the closet
This country is turning into a sad old state!! Where we going to be in 10 years time???? Nanny state
mick i’d be doing it to you too. the office hunk. ha ha
durrrty perv,I want to be respected for more then my 6 pack and rugged handsome looks steph,I am a human not an object lol
only six pack you will ever see Mick is pot noodles, Steph you are a perv
Ah winter is coming! He’d catch his death of cold if he stayed out like that (in all seriousness though Dublin City Council don’t have much to worry about!)
Spoil sports!!!
I wonder how much A&F paid Kate Middleton to use that snap??
@gaggsy well played sir “doffs cap” nice to see you paying attention
Damn, you know how hard I worked out to get those abs??
And as the comments section of the journals comments section says links to relevant blog. I wrote about Abercrombie and Fitch on fluffybiscuits.org so it is relevant.
Interesting I read the Hollister lease in Dundrum is a million flat and 10% of turnover… Surprised they’re getting it so cheap in college green.
I’ve never noticed it ! I’ll have to stop looking at the ground :D
It makes my jiney go tingly
That’s one way of treating a €750k “investment” in the Irish retail market which has been on a downward slope for years. The view of scaffolding and construction workers will be much better I assume …
Pitty
His tits are nearly as big the Club Orange wans!
hmmm would there have been any objections from the “far side of middle age over weight” city council if it was a woman in a bikini up there? somehow I doubt there would have been any threats of legal action if there was a boob on show!
hmmm would there have been any objections from the “far side of middle age, overweight” city council if it was a woman in a bikini up there? somehow I don’t think there would have been any threat of legal action if there was a boob on show
hmmm would there have been any objections from the “far side of middle age, overweight” city council if it was a woman in a bikini up there? somehow I don’t think there would have been any threat of legal action if there was a bit of boob on show!
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