New Central Statistics Office figures show that planning permissions were granted for 1,926 dwelling units in the second quarter of 2013, up 37% on the same time last year.
The CSO noted the 37% increase was off a low base in 2012.
Planning permissions were given for 1,496 houses in the three months from April to June, up 28.3% on the 1,166 the same time last year.
The number of planning permissions for apartment units soared by 79% to 430 apartment units from 240 units in the second quarter of 2012.
Today's figures show that one-off houses accounted for 35.5% of all new dwelling units granted planning permission in the three month period.
