Housing completions hit highest first-quarter level since 2011 as construction workforce nears 200,000
New CSO Housing Hub data shows sharp rise in completions, growing construction employment and continued house price inflation, despite mounting cost pressures across the sector.
28 May 2026 | 📧 editor@ipropertyradio.com
The number of new homes completed in Ireland reached its highest first-quarter level since records began in 2011, according to new data published by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) today.
The latest Housing Hub snapshot shows that 7,856 new dwellings were completed during the first three months of 2026, representing a 32.9% increase compared with the same period in 2025. The figures point to a significant acceleration in housing delivery, with apartments accounting for much of the growth.
Apartment completions rose by 33.3% year-on-year, increasing from 1,767 units in Q1 2025 to 2,355 units in Q1 2026. Single dwelling completions also increased strongly, up 27.8% from 1,110 to 1,419 units. Scheme dwellings accounted for 52% of all completions, while apartments represented 30% and single dwellings 18%.
The data also shows that 8,408 homes were commenced during the first quarter of 2026, with Fingal recording the highest number of commencements nationally at 1,048 units, followed by Dublin City with 721.
Planning permissions also returned to growth after a difficult period. A total of 34,974 dwelling units received planning permission during 2025, representing an annual increase of 7.9%, reversing the 21.4% decline recorded between 2023 and 2024. Apartments accounted for 41% of all dwelling units granted permission in Q4 2025, with 3,378 apartment units approved during the quarter.
However, while delivery activity is increasing, housing affordability pressures continue. The national Residential Property Price Index rose by 6.5% in the 12 months to March 2026, with households paying an average of €392,000 for a residential property. Prices outside Dublin increased faster than within the capital, rising by 7.2% compared with 5.7% in Dublin. Apartment prices outside Dublin rose particularly sharply, increasing by 12% year-on-year.
The construction workforce also expanded significantly, with 195,600 people employed in the sector in Q1 2026, up from 177,800 a year earlier. Around 62% of those workers were engaged primarily in new housing developments or renovations. Average hourly earnings in the construction sector increased to €29.00, while total labour costs rose to €33.39 per hour.
At the same time, inflationary pressures remain evident across construction materials. The CSO reported that the price of bituminous macadam and asphalt increased by 10.3% over the previous 12 months, making it the fastest rising building material category in the Wholesale Price Index for construction materials.
The Housing Hub also highlights ongoing regional disparities in vacancy and digital connectivity. Based on electricity consumption data, the national residential vacancy rate stood at 3.2% in Q4 2024. Leitrim recorded the highest vacancy rate nationally at 7.8%, followed by Donegal at 6.3% and Mayo at 6.0%.
Meanwhile, 95% of households across Ireland now have internet access, although regional gaps remain, with Dublin recording the highest connectivity levels and lower rates reported across Border, Mid-West and South-East regions. More than one-third of homes with Building Energy Ratings had achieved an A or B rating by Q1 2026, reflecting the growing impact of energy efficiency standards and retrofit activity.
Commenting on the publication, CSO statistician Steven Conroy said the Housing Hub is intended to provide “a comprehensive one-stop-shop for data related to housing in Ireland” and to help identify emerging trends across housing delivery, costs, affordability and housing quality.
