Wexford — The acute housing challenges faced by nurses living in rented accommodation in Ireland emerged as a central issue at this year’s annual conference of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO). Delegates highlighted the dual burden of excessive workloads and unaffordable housing costs, which they say are severely impacting their quality of life and ability to sustain a career in the profession.
Nurses described a stark reality: long, demanding shifts followed by the stress of returning to overpriced and often substandard housing. In cities like Cork, landlords are reportedly charging exorbitant rents for outdated properties that have not been renovated in decades. It was revealed that for many newly qualified nurses, rent can consume up to 77% of their income.
Esther Fitzgerald, INMO First Vice President and a nurse at Cork University Hospital, recounted a visit to an Indian colleague’s rented accommodation. The property, originally let for €500 in 1998, still contained the same furniture from that time — including a worn sofa, a dated kitchen table, and faded curtains. Today, the rent has skyrocketed to €1,900. Fitzgerald noted that similar conditions and price hikes are being reported in towns such as Mullingar, underscoring the nationwide scale of the problem. The conference called on the government to provide dedicated staff accommodation in hospitals to ease this burden.
Speakers emphasised that for nurses earning between €32,000 and €36,000 annually, rent alone often absorbs the vast majority of their income. A resolution was introduced by Christopher Hughes, a student nurse representative from the Eastern Youth Forum, urging the government to introduce housing assistance payments for nurses and midwives — similar to supports available in other public service sectors.
Long Commutes, Low Pay
The conference also addressed the daily challenges faced by nurses who, priced out of urban centres, must commute long distances using multiple buses to reach their workplaces. One delegate compared her situation to that of her parents, both psychiatric nurses in the 1970s and 1980s, who were able to buy a home on their salaries. Today, she said, home ownership remains an unattainable dream for many in the profession. Delegates also proposed the introduction of a Dublin weighting allowance, similar to salary adjustments made for public workers in London.
Broader Implications for the Health Sector
INMO General Secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha echoed the concerns, stating that the housing crisis affects not just nurses and midwives, but all public sector workers. She highlighted particular concern over accommodation for staff at the new National Children’s Hospital in Dublin, where it remains unclear whether housing provisions from the former Crumlin hospital will be extended to nurses.
The INMO continues to press the government for immediate policy responses, including staff housing schemes, salary adjustments, and targeted rent support, warning that without intervention, the healthcare system risks losing dedicated professionals to more sustainable career options elsewhere.
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