Ciarán Mullooly: Urgent EU Housing Fix - VAT Cuts & Fast Build

Ciarán Mullooly, speaking as an MEP, told the European Commission today that the EU faces an urgent housing crisis: house prices up nearly 50% and rents up nearly 20% over eight years. He urged rapid action, proposing a super-reduced VAT on construction materials, fast-track apprenticeships and relaxed rules for building on family-owned rural land.

Scale of the problem

Mullooly detailed how housing costs now consume around 40% of many household budgets across the EU, forcing long commutes and leaving some students sleeping in their cars. He highlighted individual hardship, naming Corrina O'Grady from Galway City as an example of a new generation at risk of homelessness.

Policy proposals adopted in committee

The MEP said he brought almost 50 targeted amendments to the committee and that most were taken on board. He asked the Commission to reform VAT rules to allow Member States to introduce a super-reduced rate on residential construction materials, and called for modular or fast-track apprenticeships to scale up the construction workforce.

Rural housing and immediate action

Mullooly also urged Member States to support young families in rural areas by allowing multiple dwellings to be built on family-owned land. He framed his proposals as pragmatic, urgent measures designed to prevent a growing segment of citizens from being forced into homelessness and prolonged insecurity.

Consequences and next steps

Mullooly pressed the Commissioner to act quickly, stressing the human cost and the need for Member State support to turn committee amendments into tangible policy changes. The address calls for policy decisions that would lower building costs, expand the workforce and enable quicker delivery of homes across the EU.