Developer seeking land in Mayo to help tackle growing housing crisis
A firm looking for land for development in Mayo has put forward a series of measures that could be used to address the housing challenges in the county.
Ciaran Fitzpatrick, CEO, Fitzpatrick & Heavey Group, stated: "I believe the housing crisis can only be tackled with urgency, scale, and collaboration.
"Our company has the capability to commence 10,000 homes across Ireland within the next two to three years, but, to achieve that, we need the right conditions in place.
"The first priority is land acquisition and zoning. Large, well-located landbanks would allow us to keep building without the delays and inefficiencies that come with moving from one small site to another.
"Alongside this, faster and more predictable planning permission is critical to getting homes underway quickly.
"We also see a central role for the Land Development Agency. The LDA holds significant land and has the ability to bring forward shovel-ready sites.
"By partnering with private developers like ourselves, they can dramatically accelerate delivery of both social and affordable housing, while reducing the time lost to lengthy planning and procurement processes.
"On the ground, we are committed to using local staff, suppliers, and subcontractors. This keeps skills and jobs in the community, reduces commuting pressures, and provides tradespeople with multi-year certainty, something that makes a real difference to quality of life.
"We also need VAT changes for first-time buyers. Even a modest adjustment could lower sales prices, support bank financing, and make homeownership genuinely affordable. In recent projects, we’ve delivered high-quality homes priced around €230,000 and they were snapped up immediately.
"With the right supports, we can replicate that success across towns and counties nationwide.
"The workforce is not the obstacle, we already have the staff, subcontractors, and international expertise ready to go.
"What we need now is zoned land, planning approvals, infrastructure investment, and fair tax supports.
"If these pieces are put in place, Fitzpatrick & Heavey Group is ready to scale up immediately and play a leading role in tackling Ireland’s housing shortage head on.”
Fitzpatrick Heavey Group is actively seeking additional land opportunities throughout Ireland as it continues to play a central role in addressing the national housing crisis.
The Group currently has over 500 homes under construction across counties Offaly, Westmeath, Wicklow, Cork and Cavan.
Fitzpatrick Heavey Group is a premier property development company with a proven track record in delivering high-quality residential communities across Ireland. Committed to sustainable development and innovative solutions, the company is at the forefront of tackling Ireland's housing challenges through strategic development and community-focused projects.
Current and Upcoming Developments:
• Offaly: 150 homes in Tullamore, 75 homes in Birr.
• Wicklow: 89 homes in Baltinglass.
• Westmeath: 35 homes in Moate.
• Cork: 17 homes in Cobh (for 2025 delivery).
• Cavan: 145 homes in Drumlark (commencing September 2025, with two-year build).
• Dublin: 9 homes handed over on Cashel Road (2024), with more planned.