Intel flagged housing shortage concerns with finance officials

TECH giant Intel has become the latest multinational to raise the shortage of affordable housing in Ireland as an issue impacting on employees. The company highlighted the issue at government level in May.

According to the lobbying register, Eamonn Sinnott, general manager of Intel Ireland, met Derek Moran, secretary general of the Department of Finance, to discuss matters “relevant to the ongoing business operation in Ireland”.

Housing was raised and on this issue they spoke of “competitiveness and potential impact to employees”. They also touched on issues such as Brexit, employment and tax.

A spokeswoman for Intel said the company continually “engages on topics of competitive significance, including housing for employees”. Intel employs around 4,500 people in Leixlip, Co Kildare.

Sinnott also attended a meeting in the Department of Jobs where the deployment of broadband was raised.

Last week, Susan Dargan of State Street, the international financial services company which employs 2,500 people here, said that accommodation could become an issue if firms in the sector decided to locate to Ireland following the Brexit vote.

She suggested that Dublin city planners would have to consider raising height restrictions on buildings.

Earlier this year Cathy Kearney, head of Apple’s European operations, met with Cork city council and said that plans to expand its European headquarters could be hindered by the lack of housing available for staff.

Apple is set to create 1,000 new jobs in Cork, bringing the workforce there to 6,000.