Housing commencements surge 184 percent in early 2026 as Dublin dominates delivery
March figures show sharp monthly growth while pipeline strengthens to over 21,800 homes on rolling basis
19 April 2026 | editor@breakingground.news
New home commencements rose sharply in the first quarter of 2026, with 8,408 units started across Ireland, marking a 184% increase compared to the same period in 2025.
Latest data from the Department of Housing shows that 2,939 homes were commenced in March alone, up 293% year-on-year, reinforcing a strong upward trend in residential construction activity.
The figures point to sustained momentum in delivery following a combined 85,723 commencements across 2024 and 2025, which was already 43% higher than the previous two-year period. Excluding the exceptional spike driven by levy waivers in early 2024, Q1 2026 represents the strongest start to a year on record.
A total of 21,859 commencement notices were recorded on a rolling 12-month basis to March 2026, indicating a significant pipeline of activity moving through the system.
Dublin continues to account for a substantial share of output. In March, 43% of all commencements were across the four Dublin local authorities, with Fingal County leading nationally at 686 units. South Dublin recorded 277 units, while Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown saw 178.
Across the full first quarter, Dublin represented 35% of all commencements, with Fingal again the top-performing local authority at 1,048 units, followed by Dublin City at 721 and South Dublin at 682.
In terms of typology, scheme housing continues to dominate delivery. Of March’s total, 55% were scheme dwellings, 32% apartments and 13% one-off homes, reflecting the continued emphasis on multi-unit developments to drive scale.
The data also provides insight into construction methods. Departmental tracking of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) shows ongoing use across multiple dwelling types, with trends monitored monthly to assess uptake across the sector.
The latest figures align with broader industry indicators. The AIB Construction PMI reported a second consecutive month of residential growth earlier this week, the first such expansion since the first half of 2025.
Minister for Housing James Browne said the data demonstrates “real and sustained progress” and reiterated the need to scale both public and private housing delivery, alongside efforts to reduce barriers and accelerate output under the Housing Action Plan.
For industry stakeholders, the data confirms a strengthening pipeline but also highlights continued regional concentration and reliance on scheme-led delivery, with Dublin remaining central to national output.
