A total of 511 houses were built in Donegal in 2012,
new figures show. This was a drop of 16% on the
previous year.
The year before, there were 611 houses built in
Donegal but that number fell by 100 units during the
following 12 months.
Meanwhile, 8,488 houses were built in Ireland last
year, according to the new stats.
CIF director general Tom Parlon said: “2012 was a
very difficult year for the house building industry
throughout the country, although there are signs of
increased activity in some areas.
“We are hearing about work beginning on a number of
new or housing developments or an expansion of
existing projects so that may lead to an increase in
completions for the latter half of 2013.
"But overall the low commencement rate for 2012 has
led us to forecast another drop in housing units
built during the coming year."
Mr Parlon said house building had reached
"unsustainable" levels during the boom but the
industry had since gone through six successive years
of decline.
"The ESRI estimates that this country requires
15,000 – 20,000 new homes to be built each year but
we are significantly below that figure.
“However there are some positive indicators which
should start to impact on the sector soon. The
commencement figures detail an increase in new
builds in urban areas. This tallies with the
increased demand for residential property in these
areas which has been highlighted by the various
property market commentators and estate agents.
“The banks have also promised to increase the level
of mortgages during the coming 12 months. If that
funding is provided it should help stimulate the
industry and lead to further demand, particularly in
the urban areas where there are low levels of vacant
housing stock as detailed in the latest National
Housing Development Survey,” added Mr Parlon. |
