“Unfinished homes may be 'forward counted' and distorting the market”

Key points

• An Oireachtas committee hears that unfinished homes are forward counted in housing figures.
• TU Dublin lecturer Lorcan Sirr calls completion figures grossly overcounted, citing ESB connections.
• Historical claim: 2016 analysis suggested 58% inflation in new house completions over six years.
• ESB connection data can misrepresent completion status, as power does not equal occupancy.
• Recommendations include linking completion certificates to CSO price/index data and making certificates mandatory.