‘More than a third of homes built in first three months of 2023 were apartments’

More than a third of homes built in the first three months of 2023 were apartments, according to new figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO).

The CSO examined “new dwelling completions”, which are described as recently constructed self-contained units of living accommodation.

There were 6,716 new dwelling completions during January, February and March – representing a 19.1% increase over the same period in 2022.

There was a 41% rise in apartment completions compared with the same three months last year, to 2,427.

This means apartment completions in the quarter were more than double what they were three years ago and more than five times higher than five years ago.

More than a third of all completions in the first quarter of 2023 were in Dublin, including more than three-quarters of all apartment completions.

The highest number of completions by local electoral area was 332 in Rathfarnham-Templeogue.

CSO statistician Justin Anderson said: “Six of the eight regions of Ireland saw an increase in completions from Q1 2022 to Q1 2023, with small drops just in the Midlands (Laois, Longford, Offaly, and Westmeath) and South East (Carlow, Kilkenny, Waterford, and Wexford) regions.

“The relative increase was greatest in the South West (Cork City and County, and Kerry) at 37.3% and the West (Galway City and County, Mayo, and Roscommon) at 30.7%.”

Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien welcomed the figures.

“Today’s figures show supply is increasing and that we are going in the right direction,” he said.

“Yesterday, I announced extra measures to get even more homes built and quicker, including scrapping development levies to stimulate more building activity and a scheme to kick-start the delivery of thousands more Cost Rental homes.

“These measures will further boost supply.

“Housing for All contains a projected housing output of 29,000 homes in 2023 and I am confident we will meet this target – if not exceed it.

“All of this positive momentum builds on the back of a record 7,349 homes commenced in the first three months of 2023.

“There is also a strong pipeline of social and affordable housing, with over 19,000 social homes at various stages of construction and over 2,700 more affordable homes already approved for funding.”