An Open Letter from HAI to the Sector

Recently Hardware Association Ireland (HAI) through the support of our members have been heavily involved in leading the campaign to see more Rural Family Homes built.

This campaign follows on from our successful Empty Homes and Above the Shops campaigns. All of these campaigns have the aim of unlocking opportunities in housing.

For most of our members housing in all its varied forms is a very significant market. So, what happens in housing, or what doesn’t happen in housing is very important to us.

According to the CRO our market is valued at €4 billion. Increasing the three markets below will increase our marketplace by 40%+ over the next three years.

1. Rejuvenated Empty Homes – On average they buy €70k per home in building materials. Last year there were 3,066 completed – this year, and for the next few years we would expect to see 5,500 per year = €385 million per year.
2. Rejuvenated “Above the Shops” – 5,000 per year at €125k per home in building materials = €625 million per year. This sector of the market will start growing in 2027.
3. Rural Family Homes/One Off Houses – 5,900 in 2025. When the regulations are relaxed this would add 5,000 per year at €150k in building materials = €750 million per year. This will start building momentum in 2028.

So, together these three sectors will create an extra 15,500 housing units potentially housing 50,000 people every year.

The prize to the sector is an increase in business of €1,760 million per year.

There will also be the added benefit of an extra 15,000 households spending money on goods and services. According to the CSO, the average annual household spend is €61,100 – so €947 million per year.

HAI’s plan is to continue to press for these opportunities in the market with the support of our members.

To enable this, we will measure housing delivery of all types of housing and focus on the performance by Local Authority. HAI will you keep you informed of progress and we may request help from you at local level to ensure that the required changes are delivered.

If you would like any further information on any of our lobbying campaigns or if you can become involved, please let me know.

To current paid up members, thank you for your continued support, it is invaluable. To lapsed members please reconsider your decision as we need a strong and representative lobby to have real impact at national, regional and local level. For as little as the price of a cup of coffee a day, you will help safeguard your business and our industry. To those in our sector who have not thought of joining, please consider Hardware Association Ireland membership today. We need your help and support now so that we can support you, when you need ours, https://hardwareassociation.ie/membership/.

 Yours Sincerely,

Martin Markey, CEO.