Between 2011 and 2017, the Department of Housing knowingly over-counted new housing completions by 58 per cent. If electricity connections overestimate house completions by forward-counting, the BCMS may underestimate them through delays in recording completion certificates. Almost all new housing in Dublin city since 2022 has been apartments, nearly all for the State or investment companies. In Dublin city, the CSO figures show, a paltry 58 new houses and 150 new apartments were sold to ordinary buyers last year, from an output of 4,521 . Councillor Deirdre Heney, chair of Dublin City Council’s housing committee, wondered – apparently with the best of intentions – if the council could encourage people away from the city.

Source: The Irish Times February 21, 2026 15:12 UTC