The number of homes granted planning permission in Ireland fell sharply in the second quarter of the year, with both apartments and houses recording declines, according to new figures released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO).
A total of 7,447 residential units were approved between April and June, representing a 12.5 percent drop compared with the same period in 2024, when 8,513 units were granted permission. The CSO said the figures, which provide an early indication of future building activity, highlight a slowdown in planned construction.
The decline was most pronounced in the apartment sector. Approvals for apartments fell by 21.4 percent year on year, while house approvals slipped by 6.4 percent. Overall, houses accounted for 63 percent of permissions granted in the quarter, while apartments represented the remaining 37 percent.
Within the housing category, multi-development houses saw a 7.5 percent annual fall, with approvals dropping from 3,852 to 3,565. One-off houses recorded a smaller decline of 3.2 percent, an improvement on the 4.5 percent decrease recorded in the first quarter of the year.
Regional differences were also evident. Dublin continued to dominate apartment approvals, with 1,233 units granted permission in the second quarter—45 percent of the national total. The capital also accounted for 12 percent of house approvals, or 583 units. In total, Dublin made up 24 percent of all dwellings approved in the three-month period.
However, Dublin also recorded the steepest annual declines, with overall approvals across the city’s four local authorities falling by 35.5 percent. House approvals in the capital plunged 45 percent, while apartment approvals dropped 30 percent.
Outside Dublin, the Midlands region—which includes Laois, Longford, Offaly, and Westmeath—recorded the lowest number of apartment units approved at just 72. In contrast, the Mid-East region, covering Louth, Kildare, Meath, and Wicklow, accounted for the highest number of houses approved, with 893 units. The Mid-West region of Clare, Limerick, and Tipperary recorded the lowest number of houses granted permission, at 247.
The figures come as Ireland continues to grapple with a housing shortage, with supply struggling to keep pace with demand. Industry analysts say that planning approvals are a critical early-stage indicator for future completions, and the latest decline raises concerns about whether housing delivery targets will be met in the coming years.
While the fall in one-off housing approvals showed signs of stabilisation, the sharper decline in multi-development projects and apartment permissions—particularly in Dublin, where housing need is greatest—points to challenges in bringing new supply to market.
The CSO is expected to publish housing completion figures later this year, which will provide further insight into whether the decline in approvals is already feeding through to reduced construction activity.
