A new report by the Housing Agency predicts a minimum of 79,660 housing units are needed in urban regions by 2018.
Research carried out by the government advisory body on housing shows over 37,000 units will be required in Dublin alone between 2014 and 2018. This represents an average of 7,500 units per year in order to keep up with the population growth.
The figures show there is an immediate supply requirement of 5,663 units in 2014, which rises to a yearly requirement of 8,970 units in 2018.
It says there is a real need for units in areas such as Swords and Balbriggan.
Outside the capital, in Cork city and suburbs the study predicts a requirement of 1,469 units per annum over the next 4 years. While it is expected Galway and Limerick will require a total of 2,316 and 2,635 units respectively.
Based on the projected population growth, Waterford will have a supply requirement from 2017 (total of 739 units to 2018), Kilkenny has an immediate supply shortfall, which extends to a yearly average figure of 156 units between 2014-2018.
Elsewhere, teh report says trends highlight that some areas are adequately catered for, while other areas are not at all.
It singles out Drogheda town and Dundalk as having "pronounced requirements" over the next 5 years. Athlone, Ennis, Edenderry and Killarney are also mentioned as having a real need for housing supply
Housing Agency Chief Executive John O'Connor outlines the areas most in need of accommodation.
Meanwhile the Construction Industry Federation says the barriers to building houses have to be addressed if 80,000 units are going to be built over the next five years.
The CIF Director-General Tom Parlon explains some of the main hurdles.
