EVERY WEEK, WE bring you all the news you need to know about the property market.

The Big Movers

The government delays publishing housing action plan 

Housing minister Simon Coveney has said the self-imposed 100-day deadline for the government to publishing a housing action plan will be missed because it falls in mid-August when some of the people involved will be on holidays. The plan will be published at the end of August instead.

CBRE says retail occupancy nearly at Celtic Tiger levels

Commercial property agents CBRE have released new research showing retail occupancy has nearly returned to pre-recession levels in Dublin. However that’s very different to Limerick, Cork, Sligo and Athlone where one-fifth of retail spots are vacant. 

Under Construction

Oireachtas.ie Oireachtas.ie

• Fr Peter McVerry has spoken out about children who live in emergency accommodation not being allowed to play in the garden where they are living. He was speaking to the Dáil on the issue of homelessness and depression. 
• Ulster Bank has announced it is to sell off 900 family homes as part of a €2.5 billion property portfolio sale. The bank claims the homes are already on the verge of being repossessed, but the move has been strongly criticised by public representatives.
• Some Dublin City councillors are sceptical that new housing rules allowing for eight-storey buildings will help with the housing crisis, arguing that Dublin is a low-rise city and should remain so.

Shutterstock / Martin Good Shutterstock / Martin Good / Martin Good

 Des Res

The CEO of  Goldman Sachs, Lloyd Blankfein, has sold his Hamptons summer home for an unspecified amount, thought to be around the $13 million mark (approximately €11.6 million). If you want to see how the other half live, check it out here.