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Momentum holds strong as Minister Browne welcomes latest home commencement figures
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The latest figures released today by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage show that 3,028 new homes were commenced in July - an increase of 169% compared to the same period last year, when 1,125 new homes were commenced.
This brings the total number of new homes commenced since the start of the year to 18,974, up 152% from the 7,539 homes commenced in the first seven months of 2025 and representing the second highest number of new homes since recording began in 2014.
The positive momentum observed in the first seven months of this year builds on strong figures for 2024 and 2025 combined when a total of 85,723 new homes were commenced, an increase of 43% compared with the combined total for the previous two-year period (2022 and 2023).
Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne TD, welcomed the latest figures:
“Momentum in the housing sector is seeing an uptick and these are strong figures as we move into the second half of the year.
“I have set ambitious targets in the Housing Action Plan and we need to keep our shoulder firmly to the wheel. I want more homes delivered and thousands of people are counting on that progress. I’m under no illusion about it.
“Commencements aren’t the be all and end all, and in my view the real measure is always final delivery and keys in the hand of a homeowner or a family supported with housing. But commencement rates do mark a critical milestone in development and they also give key insight into the health of the sector and what’s to come in the coming months.”
Of the 3,028 new homes commenced in July, 1,612 (53%) are scheme dwellings, 1,004 (33%) are apartments, and 412 (14%) are for one-off units. A total of 27% (826 units) were in the four Dublin local authorities. By Local Authority, the most units commenced were in Fingal County (327), followed by Dublin City (276) and Kildare County (229).
ENDS
Notes for Editors
Single dwellings are one-off dwellings.
Scheme dwellings are houses that form part of a multi-unit development.
Apartment dwellings are within a multi-unit development and are recorded as apartment units in the Building Control Management System (BCMS).
Further information on the commencement data for July and the first seven months of 2026 can be found on the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage website: https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/publications/july-commencements-2026/