The latest figures from the Central Statistics Office show that planning permissions in the third quarter of 2011 were down 45.9% on the same time last year. Planning permissions were granted for 2,512 dwelling units in three month period compared to 4,641 in 2010.
The CSO says that planning permission was granted for the building of 1,887 houses in the third quarter of this year, a 33% drop on the 2,817 units the same time last year. Permission was granted for 625 apartment units - a slump of 65.7% compared to the 1,824 units in the third quarter of 2010.
The figures show that once-off houses accounted for 44.7% of all new dwelling units granted planning permission in the three months from July to September.
They also reveal that the total area planned in the third quarter of this year was 969,000 square metres, down 31.4% compared to the same time last year.
