Source: Sam Boal/Photocall Ireland

The Big Movers

Ireland gained thousands of millionaires last year as property prices shot up

Ireland gained almost 5,000 dollar millionaires last year, according to research by a wealth analysis and property firm Knight Frank. The country had 83,100 people with assets of over $1 million (€948,000) last year. The increase in some people’s wealth is driven largely by increases in property prices.

The government will regulate Airbnb if a ‘satisfactory arrangement’ cannot be reached over renting

Housing Minister Simon Coveney has said he will be forced to introduce regulations for Airbnb if a memorandum of understanding cannot be reached with the company.
Coveney met with Airbnb bosses recently to discuss the role the company plays in Ireland’s rental market.

Twenty-seven empty houses in Ireland for every one person in emergency accommodation

There are 27 empty houses for every one person in emergency accommodation, according to the Simon Communities. The homeless and housing charity has said it is unacceptable that 198,358 homes lie empty in Ireland (about 13% of total housing stock) while 7,167 people live in emergency accommodation.

Source: Eamonn Farrell

Under Construction

• The HSE has spent €3 million upgrading its headquarters in the last five years. Figures released to TheJournal.ie include about €1.3 million on basement refurbishment in 2016, €92,581 on canteen renovations in 2015.
• There were 5.292 new social housing units acquired and built last year, according to recent findings by our FactCheck feature, which found that 788 of these homes were leased long-term from the private sector.
• Family-owned cake maker Brodericks has raised over €6m for a new factory in Tallaght, through the state-backed BDO Development Capital Fund.

Des Res

It’s been a good week for Emma Stone, who just won her second Oscar for her role in La La Land. Spend some time with her and Vogue (and hear her best Britney impression) in her Los Angeles home.