Ireland’s Housing Pipeline Strengthens as Homes Under Construction Surpass 30,000
Residential construction activity in Ireland reached a major milestone in Q2 2026, with more than 30,000 homes under construction nationwide.
The latest GeoDirectory Residential Buildings report, prepared by EY, reveals strong growth in housing delivery, rising residential stock and falling dereliction levels, although housing demand continues to outpace supply in many parts of the country.
Over 30,000 Homes Under Construction Across Ireland
The latest housing data shows that 30,508 residential buildings were under construction in June 2026, representing a 27.8% year-on-year increase and marking one of the highest levels of residential construction activity recorded in recent years.
Dublin remains the centre of Ireland’s construction pipeline, accounting for 6,107 buildings under construction, or 20% of the national total. Strong activity was also recorded in Cork (3,770), Meath (2,192), Louth (2,061) and Galway (1,968), highlighting the ongoing demand for housing in key urban centres and commuter counties.
More Than 37,000 New Homes Added to Ireland’s Housing Stock
Alongside increased construction activity, 37,128 new residential address points were added to the GeoDirectory database during the twelve months to June 2026. This represents a 12.5% increase compared with the previous year, reflecting a growing number of completed homes entering the market.
Dublin accounted for more than a third of all additions, with 12,524 new residential addresses, followed by Cork (4,154), Kildare (2,744), Galway (2,235) and Meath (1,964). Together, these counties continue to drive national housing delivery.
Almost half of all new address points were located within the Greater Dublin Area, reinforcing the importance of commuter counties in meeting housing demand generated by population growth and employment opportunities.
Ireland’s Housing Stock Exceeds 2.2 Million Homes
The report shows that Ireland's total residential housing stock now stands at 2,226,576 dwellings, up by 39,354 homes compared with Q2 2025.
Detached homes remain the most common dwelling type, accounting for 30.6% of all residential properties, followed by terraced housing (28.7%) and semi-detached homes (24.6%).
Apartment development continues to play an important role in increasing housing supply. Apartment stock grew to 250,744 units, representing an annual increase of 4.8%. Dublin continues to dominate this segment, accounting for approximately 67% of all apartments nationwide.
Vacancy Rates Remain Low Across Ireland
One of the most notable findings from the latest report is that Ireland's residential vacancy rate remains historically low. The national vacancy rate remained unchanged at 3.7%, with 81,373 residential properties recorded as vacant in Q2 2026.
Encouragingly, vacancy rates fell year-on-year in 15 of the 26 counties surveyed, indicating progress in bringing more homes into active use.
The lowest vacancy rates were recorded in:
Dublin: 1.4%
Kildare: 1.6%
Waterford: 2.2%
Meath: 2.4%
Wicklow: 2.4%
Meanwhile, the highest vacancy rates were concentrated in western and north-western counties, including Leitrim (11.5%), Mayo (10.3%) and Roscommon (9.9%).
Derelict Properties Continue to Decline
The report also highlights continued progress in tackling dereliction. As of June 2026, 19,137 residential properties were classified as derelict, representing a 3.5% decrease compared with Q2 2025.
Every county reported a fall in derelict properties, suggesting ongoing efforts to regenerate and reactivate unused housing stock. Mayo accounted for the largest share of derelict properties nationally, representing 14.2% of the total, followed by Donegal and Galway.
House Prices Continue to Rise as Demand Outstrips Supply
Despite improvements in housing delivery, property prices continue to rise across the country. According to the report, 49,666 residential property transactions took place during the twelve months to May 2026, while the national average house price increased by 4.7% to €437,631.
Average property prices increased in every county except Longford. Dublin remained the most expensive housing market in Ireland, with an average house price of €596,997, followed by Wicklow (€527,282) and Kildare (€451,485).
Within Dublin, the highest average property price was recorded in Dublin 6, where homes sold for an average of €1,019,942 during the 12 months to May 2026.
What the Latest Housing Data Means
The Q2 2026 findings paint a cautiously positive picture of Ireland’s housing market. The number of homes under construction has surpassed 30,000, new housing delivery is accelerating and dereliction continues to fall. These trends point to a stronger housing pipeline and increased capacity to meet future demand.
However, with vacancy rates remaining exceptionally low and house prices continuing to increase, the report also underlines the ongoing imbalance between housing supply and demand. Sustaining current construction levels and accelerating the delivery of new homes will remain critical to improving affordability and easing pressure across Ireland’s housing market.