Residential Construction Activity Accelerates in 2025 as Vacancy Rate remains at record low level
Construction levels jump by 25.5% in 2025 with 27,931 buildings under development in December
GeoDirectory Residential Buildings Report Q4 2025
Residential construction increased significantly in 2025, with a total of 27,931 new buildings under construction in the state in December last year, according to the latest GeoDirectory Residential Buildings Report. The report, prepared by EY, found that construction levels were 25.5% higher than at the same point in 2024.
The highest concentration of residential development activity at the end of 2025 was in Dublin, where 5,046 buildings were under construction, 18.1% of the overall total. Outside of the capital, construction levels were highest in Cork (3,668 buildings), Kildare (2,075 buildings), Louth (1,780 buildings) and Meath (1,703 buildings).
A total of 35,056 new residential address points were added to the GeoDirectory in 2025, representing a 1.1% increase year-on-year. Similar to the trends observed in construction activity, Dublin accounted for the largest proportion of new residential address points with 11,966 new additions (34.1%), followed by Cork (10.7%), Kildare (8.9%), Louth (5.4%) and Meath (5.0%).
Over half (51.5%) of new address points were located in the Greater Dublin Area of Dublin, Meath, Kildare and Wicklow. At the other end of the scale, the smallest proportion of additions were made in Leitrim (105 new address points), Longford (119 new address points) and Carlow (146 new address points).
The national residential vacancy rate remained at a record low of 3.7% in Q4 2025, decreasing by 0.1% from the same period in 2024. In total, 79,703 residential units were classified as vacant by GeoDirectory in December 2025.
The lowest residential vacancy rates in the State were recorded in Dublin, where 1.2% of the overall housing stock was vacant. Kildare (1.7%), Waterford (2.0%), Meath (2.2%) and Carlow (2.4%) all recorded vacancy rates of below 2.5%.
Residential vacancies in December 2025 were highest in the west and north-west of the country. At 11.7%, Leitrim recorded the highest vacancy rate, followed by Mayo (10.3%), Roscommon (10.1%), Donegal (9.0%) and Sligo (8.5%).
A total of 19,438 derelict units were recorded by GeoDirectory in Q4 2025, a 3.3% decrease compared to the previous year. The highest proportion of derelict units were found in Mayo (14.1% of the national total), Donegal (11.5%) and Galway (8.8%).
The number of residential property transactions fell by 2.1% in the twelve months to November 2025, according to CSO data. In total, 47,847 properties purchased across Ireland during this period, with 23.0% of these properties being new builds.
The average house price rose in all counties in the State between November 2024 and November 2025, with the national average house increasing by 6.6% to €427,937.
Residential property prices were highest in Dublin (€588,649), Wicklow (€501,881) and Kildare (€443,164). These were the only three counties where the average house price exceeded the national average.
The lowest average house prices were recorded in Longford (€206,583), Donegal (€215,554) and Leitrim (€218,507), although the average residential property transaction in Leitrim increased by €28,562 (15%) during the period in question.
Commenting on the findings of the latest GeoDirectory Residential Buildings Report, Dara Keogh, CEO of GeoDirectory said, “2025 saw an acceleration in residential construction activity, which was over 25% higher than what was recorded in 2024. Delivering this new supply pipeline to the market in 2026 should be a priority for the sector, as low vacancy rates combined with increased demand continues to drive the average property price upwards.”
Simon MacAllister, Partner at EY said “The latest GeoDirectory report highlights the continued positive momentum in Ireland’s housing market. Construction activity strengthened considerably in the last quarter of 2025 compared with the same period in 2024, while vacancy rates continued to tighten, falling to 3.7% nationally and just 1.2% in Dublin. Looking ahead, a series of policy changes introduced last year have been welcomed by construction sector and it is hoped they will unlock further housing growth potential and spur additional commencements in 2026 and beyond.”
ENDS
GeoDirectory Residential Buildings Report Q4 2025
- 27,931 residential buildings were classified as under construction in December 2025, a 25.5% increase compared to December 2024
- 35,056 new residential address points were added to the GeoDirectory database throughout 2025
- The national vacancy rate stood at 3.7% in Q4 2025. Dublin, at 1.2% had the lowest vacancy rate in the country, while Leitrim at 11.7% had the highest
- The number of derelict properties fell by 3.3% in the twelve months to December 2025, with 19,438 buildings classified as derelict in the State
- The average house price rose in all counties in the State between November 2024 and November 2025, with the national average house prices increasing by 6.6% to €427,937
Residential construction increased significantly in 2025, with a total of 27,931 new buildings under construction in the state in December last year, according to the latest GeoDirectory Residential Buildings Report. The report, prepared by EY, found that construction levels were 25.5% higher than at the same point in 2024.
The highest concentration of residential development activity at the end of 2025 was in Dublin, where 5,046 buildings were under construction, 18.1% of the overall total. Outside of the capital, construction levels were highest in Cork (3,668 buildings), Kildare (2,075 buildings), Louth (1,780 buildings) and Meath (1,703 buildings).
A total of 35,056 new residential address points were added to the GeoDirectory in 2025, representing a 1.1% increase year-on-year. Similar to the trends observed in construction activity, Dublin accounted for the largest proportion of new residential address points with 11,966 new additions (34.1%), followed by Cork (10.7%), Kildare (8.9%), Louth (5.4%) and Meath (5.0%).
Over half (51.5%) of new address points were located in the Greater Dublin Area of Dublin, Meath, Kildare and Wicklow. At the other end of the scale, the smallest proportion of additions were made in Leitrim (105 new address points), Longford (119 new address points) and Carlow (146 new address points).
The national residential vacancy rate remained at a record low of 3.7% in Q4 2025, decreasing by 0.1% from the same period in 2024. In total, 79,703 residential units were classified as vacant by GeoDirectory in December 2025.
The lowest residential vacancy rates in the State were recorded in Dublin, where 1.2% of the overall housing stock was vacant. Kildare (1.7%), Waterford (2.0%), Meath (2.2%) and Carlow (2.4%) all recorded vacancy rates of below 2.5%.
Residential vacancies in December 2025 were highest in the west and north-west of the country. At 11.7%, Leitrim recorded the highest vacancy rate, followed by Mayo (10.3%), Roscommon (10.1%), Donegal (9.0%) and Sligo (8.5%).
A total of 19,438 derelict units were recorded by GeoDirectory in Q4 2025, a 3.3% decrease compared to the previous year. The highest proportion of derelict units were found in Mayo (14.1% of the national total), Donegal (11.5%) and Galway (8.8%).
The number of residential property transactions fell by 2.1% in the twelve months to November 2025, according to CSO data. In total, 47,847 properties purchased across Ireland during this period, with 23.0% of these properties being new builds.
The average house price rose in all counties in the State between November 2024 and November 2025, with the national average house increasing by 6.6% to €427,937.
Residential property prices were highest in Dublin (€588,649), Wicklow (€501,881) and Kildare (€443,164). These were the only three counties where the average house price exceeded the national average.
The lowest average house prices were recorded in Longford (€206,583), Donegal (€215,554) and Leitrim (€218,507), although the average residential property transaction in Leitrim increased by €28,562 (15%) during the period in question.
Commenting on the findings of the latest GeoDirectory Residential Buildings Report, Dara Keogh, CEO of GeoDirectory said, “2025 saw an acceleration in residential construction activity, which was over 25% higher than what was recorded in 2024. Delivering this new supply pipeline to the market in 2026 should be a priority for the sector, as low vacancy rates combined with increased demand continues to drive the average property price upwards.”
Simon MacAllister, Partner at EY said “The latest GeoDirectory report highlights the continued positive momentum in Ireland’s housing market. Construction activity strengthened considerably in the last quarter of 2025 compared with the same period in 2024, while vacancy rates continued to tighten, falling to 3.7% nationally and just 1.2% in Dublin. Looking ahead, a series of policy changes introduced last year have been welcomed by construction sector and it is hoped they will unlock further housing growth potential and spur additional commencements in 2026 and beyond.”
ENDS
For Further Information:
Killian Keys, Wilson Hartnell, Killian.keys@ogilvy.com, 086-1024302
Niamh O’Connor, Wilson Hartnell, niamh.oconnor@ogilvy.com, 085-8542540
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The GeoDirectory database is the most comprehensive address database of dwellings in the Republic of Ireland. A copy of the Residential Buildings Report is attached in PDF format and is available at www.geodirectory.ie
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