Fury as Ryanair bulk buys 25 homes in Dublin housing estate

"First time buyers are now competing against giant multinationals as well as vulture funds."

Many are taking to social media to voice their anger as Ryanair reveals it has bulk bought 25 homes in a Dublin housing estate. In a statement to JOE, a Ryanair spokesperson confirmed that the airline purchased the new built units in Fosterstown in Swords as a means to provide rentals close to Dublin Airport for its cabin crew. The Ryanair statement on the purchase reads:

“Ryanair confirms that it has purchased 25 new built units in Fosterstown, Swords in order to ensure that it can provide high-quality but affordable rentals close to Dublin Airport for new cabin crew who are joining Ryanair based in Dublin, to help us maintain Ryanair’s flight schedules for up to 33 Dublin aircraft. "In recent years the absence of affordable rental accommodation has been a major impediment to recruiting and training new Irish and European cabin crew members to Ryanair’s inflight team. "This accommodation, which is located one bus stop from Dublin Airport, will be rented at affordable rates to Ryanair cabin crew during their first year of employment.”

Reaction to Ryanair purchases

Several politicians and housing experts have hit out against the purchase, stating that it highlights the severity of the housing crisis and that they would have preferred to see the properties being sold to families. Social Democrats TD Cian O'Callaghan wrote on Twitter: "Ryanair have snapped up 25 out of 28 homes in a new housing estate in swords. "First time buyers are now competing against giant multinationals as well as vulture funds. This Government has brought nothing but chaos to the Irish housing system."

Ryanair have snapped up 25 out of 28 homes in a new housing estate in swords.

First time buyers are now competing against giant multinationals as well as vulture funds. This Government has brought nothing but chaos to the Irish housing system. https://t.co/CLyg4HkGe0 — Cian O'Callaghan T.D. (@OCallaghanCian) January 25, 2024

Ollie Power, a People Before Profit rep for Swords, also tweeted in response to the news: "Ryanair shoves Swords families looking to buy a home into the gutter. "Given their record as an employer I fear for anyone who has them as a landlord. A grossly anti-social transaction with single aim of squeezing every last drop of surplus value-at source-out of their staff."

Ryanair shoves Swords families looking to buy a home into the gutter.

Given their record as an employer I fear for anyone who has them as a landlord. A grossly anti-social transaction with single aim of squeezing every last drop of surplus value-at source-out of their staff. https://t.co/hn3GJThSaD — Ollie Power (@OllieDePaor) January 25, 2024

Podcaster and satirist Blindboy Boatclub, who has explored issues surrounding housing through his work, said: "Housing crisis is so bad that we are seeing the return of company towns."

Housing crisis is so bad that we are seeing the return of company towns. This is Victorian shit pic.twitter.com/ImCUw8RS6H

— The Blindboy Podcast (@bbboatclub) January 25, 2024

Meanwhile, Shay Lally of Houses to Restore wrote: "I’m in favour of companies taking good care of their staff but this example highlights how dysfunctional our property market is. "A lot of peoples accommodation requirements are not being fulfilled by the type of property being built! "Ryanair has purchased what are to me family homes. They should have been sold to families who are looking for a house." Main image via Getty and MKN Property Group Read more:

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