Housing commencements remain below 20,000 annually as February activity reaches 3,423 units
Rolling 12-month pipeline shows modest delivery levels despite strong activity in key Dublin authorities
19 March 2026 | editor@breakingground.news
A total of 3,423 commencement notices for new homes were lodged in February 2026, according to the latest publication from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
On a rolling 12-month basis, commencements reached 19,667 units for the period March 2025 to February 2026, indicating that annualised housing starts remain below the 20,000 threshold
The data highlights continued concentration of activity in the Greater Dublin Area. Dublin City recorded the highest number of units commenced in February at 537, followed by Wicklow County with 496 and South Dublin County with 405
The accompanying chart in the publication shows a sharp rise in rolling 12-month commencements in the period to early 2025, followed by a notable decline into early 2026, suggesting volatility in delivery levels and potential pipeline constraints.
Data on construction methods indicates increasing tracking of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC), with departmental monitoring now capturing both primary construction methods and materials used. This is intended to assess the extent to which MMC is contributing to delivery across different dwelling types
The chart on MMC usage shows variation by dwelling type between September 2025 and February 2026, with higher adoption rates evident in certain categories, although trends remain uneven month to month.
The figures point to a steady but constrained level of housing starts nationally, with output still short of levels typically associated with meeting structural housing demand. The regional concentration of commencements also reinforces ongoing reliance on Dublin and surrounding counties to drive delivery.
