There was a 19.3% increase in new house completions in 2003 compared to the previous year, according to figures released today from the Department of the Environment.
The total number of new house completions in 2003 was 68,819 compared to 57,695 in 2002. The number of completions in 1996 was 33,725. Between 1996 and 2002, population growth in Ireland was 8%.
Housing Minister Noel Ahern said he felt supply was catching up with demand and described the number of completions last year as a 'staggering figure'.
5,000 homes were provided by local authorities and a further 1,500 to 1,600 were provided by the voluntary sector in 2003.
Today's figures from the Department of the Environment also reveal that 14,394 houses were built in Dublin last year, a 14% increase on 2002 levels. 22,852 units were built in the Greater Dublin area in 2003, up 10.5% on the previous year.
The figures show that County Councils in South Tipperary (646), Longford (659) and Monaghan (660) had the lowest levels of house building, while Fingal (7,019), Cork (6,325) and Meath (3,687) had the highest.
The National Development Plan estimates that 500,000 homes will be required in the 10 years to 2010. 229,000 have been built in the last four years.
