Bishop Denis Nulty made the comments during a St Valentine's Mass and blessing of couples as new research from an organisation he leads reveals that 84% of adults say that the housing crisis is causing some couples to delay getting married and/or have children.
Bishop Nulty made the comments about housing in a homily in the Carmelite Church, Whitefriar St, Dublin which is noted for having the relics of St Valentine.
"I am very conscious that for some couples the pressure to own their own home, hold down a secure job, have a promising career path – these pressures can be very challenging and demanding.
"The reported queue on Saturday morning last of several first time buyers as new houses in a Kildare estate were snapped up within minutes of their launch, shows the worry this is to many young couples.
"Having the security of a home is an essential start for any couple, for any family," he said.
He made the remarks on the same day as Accord, the Catholic marriage care service, published a study carried out Amárach Research, to undertake a survey to determine the level of correlation between couples deciding to marry and have children, and the availability of housing supply.
Tony Shanahan, Director of Accord CLG, outlined the survey’s headline results.
84% of adults in Ireland say that the housing crisis is causing some couples to delay getting married and/or have children: this rises to 89% of women (79% of men);
54% of those aged 25-34 years plan to get married and/or have children;
48% of couples planning to get married would have married before now if it wasn’t for the housing situation (33% would have married in the past three years but didn’t); and,
60% of couples planning to have children would have done so before now if it wasn’t for the housing situation (36% would have had a child in the past three years but didn’t).
"Accord publishes an Amárach survey that reveals the extent to which the lack of housing supply is impacting on the decision-making of couples who wish to get married and have children," said.
"This has serious social implications now and into the future. Possible practical responses might include Government acting to streamline and simplify the planning process to amend housing regulations for older properties to bring vacant units back into use. The hope that young people hold for a married life together, and to start a family, needs to be underpinned by certainty in a functioning and affordable housing market.
"However, there is no single housing market. Different demographics have different needs, and public policy should incentivise development initiatives geared towards the provision of accommodation solutions appropriate to each demographic,” said Mr Shanahan.
Bishop Denis Nulty is the President of Accord. His diocese includes parts of Laois, Kildare, Offaly, Carlow and Wicklow. It's part of the Dublin Archdiocese.