Housing crisis and unaffordable rent costs in Ireland, caused by immigration?

I'll point out that a certain percentage of the homes do need to be vacant for maximum economic efficiency (ironic or paradoxical as that may sound). Usually somewhere between about 4 to 9 percent.

Trying to eliminate this is not really a true solution to the housing problem. First of all, that's only 4 to 9 percent, a small drop in the bucket compared to the overall picture, and second of all, it's just unrealistic to expect the vacancy rate to be able to drop all the way down to zero.

The real problem is that there are too many people and not enough houses.

 

No, the real problem is that landowners are so exorbitantly subsidized for holding good land idle.

 

We're only talking about a small percentage of the total homes in the areas where the prices are least affordable and the housing shortages are most acute.

How can you try to make your argument when only 4.5% percent of homes in New York City and Los Angeles are vacant?

You don't think if we were able to somehow make the vacancy rate go down to 1% that would really solve the housing crisis, do you?

Or you think the issue is idle land? Have you actually taken a look at the areas where the housing shortages are most acute? Do you see much open space and idle land there?