The number of new housing being built has increased by almost one fifth during the first three months of 2013, according to new figures released by the Construction Industry Federation (CIF). A total of 965 units were started around Ireland in the first quarter of 2013, up 159 units or 19.7% from the same period in 2012 when a total of 806 new housing units commenced. 

The latest CIF Housing Statistics Bulletin shows the level of house building has particularly increased in Dublin and Galway. Dublin has experienced the strongest jump with 254 units beginning in the first three months of this year compared to the 43 units being started in 2012. This represents an increase of 490%. 

The breakdown between the various local authority areas in the capital saw 110 units start in Dun Laoghaire Rathdown, up from 9 in 2012. Fingal has witnessed 47 house starts compared to 13 for the same period the year before. South Dublin had 28 house starts, up from 7 and Dublin City had 69 commencements, an increase of 55 new units from the 14 that were started in the first quarter of 2012. 

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Galway also witnessed a strong increase in starts. Work began on 110 units between January and March 2013, an increase of 80% or 49 units from the 61 that were started during the same timeframe in 2012. The breakdown of the Galway figures saw 93 units started in Galway County, up from 59 in 2012 and a further 17 units started in Galway City which was up from 2 units in 2012. 

Other local authority areas to witness increases in house commencements include Carlow, Cork County, Mayo, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon and Wicklow. There were also decreases of activity in certain parts of the country. Limerick experienced the largest drop in actual housing numbers falling from 60 units started in the first quarter of 2012 compared to 21 for the first three months of this year. This represents a fall of 65%. In Limerick City the total activity has fallen to zero in the first 3 months. The largest percentage fall by county was in Sligo, which suffered a drop of 74% as only 7 units were started in the first 3 months, compared to 27 the year before.