Figures from home guarantee scheme Homebond show that the number of new homes registered last year fell by almost 50% compared with 2009.
Homebond said 1,680 new homes were registered last year, compared with 3,337 in 2009. In December, just 39 homes were registered, down 74% from the 149 recorded in December 2009.
The Homebond figures are seen as an indicator of future housing activity. Homebond is the bigger of two companies which provide registration figures, the other being Premier.
Only eight new homes were registered in Dublin in December, with ten in Cork. There were no new homes at all registered in 14 counties.
