New data released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) shows a 12.5% drop in the number of residential units granted planning permission in the second quarter of this year. A total of 7,447 housing units were approved during the period, compared to 8,513 in the same quarter last year, reports RTE.
These planning permission statistics offer insight into likely future trends in housing construction.
The CSO reported that planning approvals for apartments fell sharply by 21.4%, while house approvals decreased by a more moderate 6.4% over the same timeframe, reports RTE.
Houses made up 63% of all residential units approved between April and June, while apartments accounted for the remaining 37%, the CSO said.
The figures also highlight that the number of multi-development houses granted permission fell by 7.5% year-on-year, from 3,852 units to 3,565 units, reports RTE.
Although one-off houses also saw a drop in approvals—down 3.2% annually—this represented a smaller decrease than the 4.5% decline observed between the first quarters of 2024 and 2025.
Dublin recorded the highest number of apartments approved nationwide during the second quarter, with 1,233 units, representing 45% of all apartment approvals. Dublin also accounted for 12% of all house approvals with 583 units, reports RTE.
Altogether, 1,816 residential units were approved in Dublin, making up 24% of all homes granted permission during the three-month period.
However, across the four Dublin local authorities, the total number of homes approved fell by a significant 35.5% year-on-year. Within that, house approvals dropped 45%, while apartment approvals declined by 30%, reports RTE.
In contrast, the Midlands region (Laois, Longford, Offaly, and Westmeath) recorded the lowest number of apartment approvals, with just 72 units granted permission.
The Mid-East region (Louth, Kildare, Meath, and Wicklow) had the highest number of houses approved, at 893 units, while the Mid-West region (Clare, Limerick, and Tipperary) saw the fewest house approvals, with 247 units, reports RTE.
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