An analysis by Newstalk reporter Paul O'Donoghue shows that for a single person on a typical wage, houses are only affordable in 7 of the 26 counties in Ireland: Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Longford, Mayo, Roscommon and Sligo. This was even with a deposit of 20%. With a 10% deposit, only 4 of those counties remain affordable.

This is based on a person on the median salary, looking to buy a home at the median price. Across Ireland, the estimated median salary for 2020 was just over €38,000. With a 20% deposit, this would allow a buyer to get a property worth €185,200. This was far less than the actual median house price of €260,000.