The number of planning permissions approved for homes fell dramatically in the first quarter of 2010, reflecting the continuing weakness in the property market, the Central Statistics Office said today.
Permission was granted for only 5,510 dwelling units over the three month period, compared to 14,177 in the same period in 2009, a 61 per cent decline.
The number of houses that permission was sought for was down 65 per cent to 3,585, from 10,256 a year earlier.
Of these, 28 per cent were once off houses, compared 19.3 per cent in the same period of 2009. Permission was granted for 1,925 apartments, a 51 per cent decline compared to last year.
Figures from the Construction Industry federation earlier this month predicted that fewer than 10,000 homes would be built in the State this year. This would place Ireland at the bottom of the European residential construction table.
In total, 4,519 planning permissions were granted for all developments in the first three months of the year, compared to 7,486 in the first quarter of 2009. This is a decline of 39.6 per cent.
Applications for new buildings for agriculture fell to 105 during the quarter, from 127 a year earlier.