The Irish Home Builders Association says a '20th Century planning system' is delaying efforts to satisfy housing demand.
It's published a report, listing what it calls 'achievable improvements' to the planning structure.
Ireland needs around 33,000 - 33,600 units per year to meet the current need.
Director with the I-H-B-A, James Benson, says something as simple as an online planning application system would help dig into that.
"Peoples' lives have changed dramatically in the last year, and their needs and demands have changed with that and proper sustainable planning needs to recognise that.
"There's also a number of recommendations we'd like to see, from the introduction of a potential use of greater outlining planning permissions.
"This would help define strategic design and planning requirements at the outset of a project rather than the end, and this would would bring forward a reduction in costs in ultimate delivery."
