This episode of the Inside Business podcast looks at Ireland's commercial and residential property markets. In part one John McCartney, Director of Research at BNP Paribas Real Estate Ireland, discusses a significant surge in Dublin's office vacancies and the factors affecting office space demand, including the global economic downturn, a tech sector slowdown, and shifts in workspace needs post-COVID. In part two economics columnist Cliff Taylor looks at Sinn Féin's criticism of first-time buyer support schemes and the State's spending on measures to help people find homes. The episode also explores the potential for repurposing vacant office spaces into housing and the challenges associated with these conversions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.