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There is “zero possibility” of the government reaching housing targets this year despite house completions rising significantly in the second quarter of this year.
Some 9,214 new houses were completed in April, May and June of this year, according to the latest Central Statistic Office figures. This is up 35% from quarter one. This is a significant increase on January, February and March of 2025, which saw 5,938 house completions.
However, it is unlikely that the government will reach its target of 41,000 new builds this year, and figures will fall more in line with the Central Bank’s estimate of 34,000. To reach government targets, 14,424 new builds would have to be completed in quarters three and four.
Chief economist at Deloitte Ireland, Kate English, said while completions are high, commencements are at the lowest in a decade. She said: “Completion figures confirm that there is practically zero possibility of reaching housing targets this year unless something remarkable happens in the second half of 2025.
“An examination of commencement figures for the mid-way point of 2025 does not leave much room for optimism in 2026. The low commencement figures are concerning because this shows how our future pipeline is performing.” Managing Director of Roundtower Capital Ian Lawlor said unless there is an “exponential increase” in housing delivery it will continue to be unaffordable for a large cohort of the population.
He said: “We are calling for emergency housing legislation that would fast-track developments of national importance, overriding the legal delays and local inconsistencies that currently hamper builders’ ability to deliver projects efficiently. Just as Ireland demonstrated its capacity to build pandemic hospitals within weeks and mobilise resources overnight, we must now apply that same energy and coordination to housing delivery.”
He added that ambitious housing targets are no good “without proper planning, joined-up thinking and the necessary infrastructure, these promises will simply never be lived up to”. Of the 9,214 new completions this quarter, more than half were scheme houses, 33% were apartments and 17% were single dwellings.
Some 3,053 apartments were completed which is up 101% year-on-year. Of these, 83% were in the capital. The Blanchardstown-Mulhuddart electoral area saw the most growth of the country, with 501 new house completions in quarter two of this year.
Dublin saw massive growth, with 85% more houses being built in this quarter compared to the same period last year. Some 42% of all completions this quarter were in Dublin, and 17% were in Louth, Meath, Kildare and Wicklow.
Housing Minister James Browne welcomed the figures, saying: “There is no single solution to our housing challenges, a multi-faceted approach is required.
“This is why this government has implemented planning reforms to extend permissions for developments approaching the end of their timeframe, introduced targeted measures to increase rental supply and attract investment in the residential sector, and rolled out new supports to assist both prospective homebuyers and renters.”
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