House building still on the rise in Galway city and county
The month of March saw construction get underway on 131 new homes across the county, up from 44 the previous year – while Galway City saw starts on 71 homes, compared to no commencements in March last year.
The latest figures from the Department of Housing also showed a month-on-month increase, with the county up from 72 in February, and Galway City up from 49.
Nationally, 2,939 homes were commenced in March, which is up 293% on the same month last year. A total of 8,408 homes have been commenced so far this year.
In March alone this year, 2,939 new homes were commenced across the country – an increase of 293% compared to the same month last year.
The commencement data so far this year builds on the figures for 2024 and 2025 when a total of 85,723 homes were commenced, representing an increase of 43% compared with the combined total for the previous two-year period (2022 and 2023).
Of the 2,939 units commenced in March, 1,635 (55%) are scheme dwellings, 932 (32%) are apartments and 372 (13%) are for one-off units.
This follows positive news earlier in the week where AIB’s latest Irish Construction PMI survey showed that building activity in the residential sector posted its second successive month of growth for the first time since the first half of 2025.
Minister of State Seán Canney welcomed the latest housing commencement figures, described then as a step in the right direction.
“What’s important is that we’re now seeing that continue month to month. That tells you activity is picking up again on the ground,” he said.
Starting homes is one thing – getting them built and finished is what really matters
He said the focus had to remain on delivery. “Starting homes is one thing – getting them built and finished is what really matters,” he said. “We will continue to work across Government to keep progress moving and to support the delivery of homes as quickly as possible.”
Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne was delighted to see what he called ‘such strong figures with regard to the number of new homes being built throughout the country’ – but said he’d strive for more.
“I intend to use every lever available, to minimise red tape and maximise delivery. This will require increased public delivery of social and affordable housing, but also a serious increase in private sector home building,” he said.