Latest figures from the Central Statistics Office show the number of planning permission approvals for homes has fallen by 8.8% in the first quarter of 2007 compared with the same period last year.
The figures confirm the predictions of experts that between 75,000 and 80,000 new homes will be built in Ireland this year. That is down from 93,000 homes built last year.
Today's figures show there was a 19.5% fall in the number of planning approvals for new apartments. But the fall for approvals for houses was lower, at 4.9%.
One-off houses accounted for 23% of new planning approvals. Planning permissions were granted for 20,538 new dwelling units in the first quarter of 2007. This compares with 22,524 new dwelling units in the same quarter of 2006.
