Ryanair will not rule out buying more housing for its staff in Dublin. 

Last week, the budget airline announced the cost of renting in the capital had become a “major impediment” to its recruitment targets.

It has purchased 24 newly-built units in Swords and said it would rent them at “affordable rates” to cabin crew in their first year of employment. 

Ryanair chief financial officer Neil Sorahan did not rule out buying more housing in the future. 

“I hope not,” he told Breakfast Business. 

“I hope the Government starts improving the housing stock that’s available but we did have to go out and buy some housing for our staff.

“That was one of the impediments in attracting people to Dublin.

“I think it’s important our staff have access to quality and affordable housing.” 

Ryanair passengers.

Minister for Business Simon Coveney said it was ‘not unusual’ among large companies to house their staff. 

“I was in Paris in the last number of weeks looking at the largest start-up hub in Europe and they’ve also invested in housing to support people to work there,” he told The Anton Savage Show.

“If you go across to the west coast in the US, large multinationals also invest in housing. 

“What Ryanair has done here is ensure the housing pressure their staff are feeling that they are directly impacting that in a positive way and have people living close to the airport.”

The cost of housing in Ireland continues to climb; a report by Daft.ie in August last year found the cost of renting had risen by 10% in a year. 

Main image: A Ryanair Boeing 737-8AS aircraft in Palma de Mallorca, Spain in August 2011. Picture by: Greg Bajor / Alamy Stock Photo