Gavin Pepper’s DCC housing numbers prove Irish housed first!
Posted 16/Sept/2026 By Ross McGann
Numbers for Dublin City Council housing list, which show a breakdown by nationality, were released by Councilor Gavin Pepper to Gript Media, who published an initial report with commentary from conservative commentators which was free to read, before publishing a second article with the reasoning behind some numbers, which they paywalled.
Top line
Using similar logic to Mr Pepper, the first line of the numbers puts to rest the claims made by many conservative commentators. With 58% on the waiting list being Irish and 67.1% of accepted offers for housing going to them, it is clear that Irish people are in fact being housed ahead of other nationalities.
So what’s the real story?
Pepper’s argument that the % share of non-Irish social housing offers has increased over the last 5 years is based off a chart that clearly states under it:
“The composition of the waiting list may have changed rapidly. Comparing today’s list with allocations made in 2020 is therefore statistically weak”
There are various reasons for why it is statistically weak, including that people being offered housing in 2020 had been on the list since between 2005 and 2015, while many on today have only been added in recent years.
Other reasons:
Due to different criteria and population demographics, there is a vastly different breakdown between the two years. Comparing the allocations to the current demographic of people without allocating for the time difference, housing market or general immigration, does not show a true and fair view of who housing is actually provided to.
Another major factor in relation to anything housing in Ireland is of course the private rental market. In 2025 there was 19,124 evictions logged with the PRTB, up from 16,546 in 2024 and 17,281 in 2023. The 2023 figures come in a year that saw the Covid eviction ban lifted in April which saw a sharp increase in evictions. Similar took place in Q1 2026 due to changes to rental laws coming into effect, 7,062 notices to quit were issued in just 3 months.
Immigration
People who immigrate into Ireland rent housing at much higher rate than Irish people. With an extremely volatile rental market in recent years, as well as two major spikes in evictions from rental properties, many who have made Ireland their home, have faced struggles when it comes to housing.
For an EU citizen to get a place on an local authority housing list they must be working or have been working here for over a year, be on sick leave or jobseekers or be family of an Irish Citizen. They must also reach all regular thresholds and criteria to be added to the list.
Non-EU citizens must hold a long term legal immigration status such as a Stamp 4 or have had an application for international protection approved. They then must reach all regular thresholds and criteria such as income levels and housing needs assessment.
International Protection
People who come to Ireland from certain countries are allowed to, under International and Irish law, seek international protection. The system in Ireland can be incredibly slow moving and can take anything from 15 months to a few years. Many people spend years living in Direct Provision or IPAS centers while awaiting on the outcome of their application.
Due to current geopolitical unrest, ongoing genocides, war, famine, climate breakdown and many other factors, there is an increasing number of people seeking international protection globally. This has lead to an increased demand on services which the Irish Government have not planned for nor managed very well.
People who’s application is approved are often times moved on from Direct provision or IPAS centers and are unable to find accommodation. Once their application is approved they are awarded the Stamp 4 visa and are required to pass all the same criteria as anyone else before they are put onto the housing list.
Housing list Vs Emergency accommodation
The numbers often reported on in Irish media refer to the number of people living in emergency accommodation. This is a completely separate list to the housing list which was reported on.
The number of people living in emergency accommodation at last reported in 2026 was 17,527, up from 9,104 in December 2021, an increase of over 8,000.
The number of people on local authority housing lists was 61,719 last reported in December 2025, up from 59,247 in December 2021, and increase of just over 2,000.
The Simon community has also highlighted the estimated 290,000 people in Ireland would be considered Hidden Homeless, many relying on friends and family for a roof over their head.
Conclusion
The Housing crisis in Ireland has been ongoing since the 2010’s, the massive increases in evictions, combined with a system set up so private investors can buy up housing stock as assets and set basically what ever rents they want are some of the main reasons the crisis exists.
The numbers used by Councillor pepper were statistically weak and carefully chosen to incite hate against some of the most vulnerable people within our society. His ongoing actions as a representative of Dublin City Council raises many questions.
