The country is facing five big threats next year – from both domestic and foreign issues.
1. Housing
Economically, socially and politically housing represents the biggest challenge facing the incoming government.
The outgoing coalition threw money at housing, ramped up the Land Development Agency and put a greater emphasis on schemes like Help-to-Buy.
But residential construction was disappointing in 2024. Ireland is estimated to have built a similar number of homes as it did during the previous year.
The indications are more positive for 2025 when more than 40,000 homes will be finished and possibly reach 50,000 in 2026, according to estimates.
It is still…