15,946 Homes Commenced in First Half of 2026 as June Activity More Than Doubles
Housing commencements rose 149% year-on-year in the first six months of 2026, while 80% of housing schemes and 37% of apartment developments signalled an intention to use Modern Methods of Construction.
17 July 2026 | editor@breakingground.news
Housing commencements continued their strong upward trajectory in June, with 2,826 new homes started during the month, representing a 105% increase on the 1,381 units commenced in June 2025, according to the latest figures published by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
The latest data brings the total number of homes commenced during the first six months of 2026 to 15,946, an increase of 149% compared with the 6,414 units commenced during the same period last year. The figures continue the sharp recovery in commencement activity that has characterised the past two years, following the introduction of commencement notice validity extensions and sustained activity across the residential development sector.
The first-half performance also builds on the momentum established during 2024 and 2025, when 85,723 homes were commenced across the two-year period, 43% higher than the combined total recorded in 2022 and 2023.
The June figures show that apartment developments continued to account for the majority of new commencements. Of the 2,826 units started during the month, 1,765 were apartments, representing 62% of all commencements. A further 582 units, or 21%, were houses within multi-unit housing schemes, while 479 units, or 17%, were one-off dwellings.
Regional activity remained heavily concentrated in the Greater Dublin Area. The four Dublin local authorities accounted for 1,074 commencements during June, representing 39% of the national total.
At local authority level, Dublin City recorded the highest number of commencements with 789 units, followed by Cork City with 328 units and Meath County with 262 units, highlighting continued activity in both major urban centres and key commuter counties.
The latest data also points to continued growth in the adoption of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC), which Government has identified as a key mechanism for increasing housing delivery capacity and improving productivity.
During the first half of 2026, 80% of housing schemes notified an intention to incorporate MMC in their construction, while 37% of apartment developments indicated they also intend to use MMC.
Within housing schemes, timber frame continues to dominate MMC adoption, accounting for 66% of intended construction methods. Masonry block construction represented 19%, insulated concrete formwork accounted for 9%, while other MMC approaches made up the remaining 6%. Apartment developments showed a more diverse mix of construction systems, with reinforced concrete accounting for 35%, precast concrete 25%, masonry block 24%, insulated concrete formwork 4%, timber frame 3%, light gauge steel 2% and other systems 7%.
The Department’s accompanying MMC data also illustrates the pace of structural change within the sector. Timber frame accounted for approximately 20% of the Irish low-rise housing market in 2008. Industry estimates placed that share at around 37% by 2019 and 48% in earlier industry surveys, before Departmental commencement tracking recorded 61% of housing schemes intending to use timber frame during the second half of 2025. That proportion has now increased further to 66% during the first half of 2026.
Housing Minister James Browne said the latest commencement figures demonstrate continued momentum in housing delivery, while noting that Government intends to maintain the pace of construction. He also highlighted the increasing uptake of Modern Methods of Construction as a means of delivering homes more quickly while maintaining quality standards.
The commencement figures provide an early indicator of future housing supply rather than completed output. They follow strong completion figures earlier this year, with industry forecasts suggesting housing completions could approach 40,000 units during 2026 if current delivery levels are maintained. However, commencements remain only one part of the housing pipeline, with planning permissions, infrastructure availability, labour capacity and project viability continuing to influence whether commenced developments ultimately translate into completed homes.
