Holding on and Letting Go in Ireland: Examining the Policy and Fiscal Environment for Supplementing Retirement Income from Residential Property

Ireland’s profile traditionally saw high rates of home ownership, a mix of public and private pensions, annuity style mortgages, a favourable pensioner support ratio and a modest replacement income on retirement. As the country emerged from the financial crisis, housing supply has lagged behind demand, with many individuals and households moving into a heated rental residential property sector. Meanwhile pension coverage has declined. Now, policymakers are examining the multidimensional parameters of ageing to prepare for future dependency patterns and projected greater outlays to secure acceptable retirement income levels. This chapter explores the trends and structural context in this domain, thereby providing a map on which policy options can be plotted, all in pursuit of a consensual and sustainable pathway.