Government set to fall short of promised number of new homes built

A total of 21,643 new homes were built in Ireland in the first nine months of this year, a fall of more than 3 per cent on the same period last year.

Under the Housing for All plan, the Government has pledged to build an average of 33,000 new homes each year from 2021 to 2030.

Last year saw the highest level of residential construction since the Celtic Tiger era with just under 33,000 units completed.

However, new home completions have slowed during 2024, putting the Government’s target of 33,450 completions this year at risk.

Figures from the Central Statistics Office show there were 8,939 new houses built between July and September this year, an increase of 6.3 per cent on the same three months of 2023.

Apartment completions fell 7.2 per cent compared to the same three-month period last year, to 3,096. Single dwelling completions were down 5.3 per cent to 1,354.

More than three-quarters (78.5 per cent) of apartment completions in the third quarter of 2024 were in Dublin (2,459). In Dublin city, 94.8 per cent of completions in the period were apartments.

There was a rise in completions for five of the eight regions of Ireland compared to the same three months last year, including a 53.7 per cent rise in the southeast, while decreases occurred in the Border, west, and mideast regions.

By local electoral area, the most completions between July and September were in Clondalkin with 622.

Decreases were seen in the Mid-East, which covers Kildare, Louth, Meath, Wicklow, at 20.7 per cent. The West (Galway City, Galway County, Mayo, Roscommon) at 14.7 per cent, and 7.5 per cent in the Border (Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Monaghan, Sligo) regions.