Planning permission applications increased by 52% in 2014.

Fine Gael TD for Meath East, Regina Doherty, has welcomed the news and said there is a big demand for housing but very few new builds.

She commented: "According to the CSO, in the third quarter of 2014, planning permissions were granted for 2,144 dwellings, compared with 1,409 units for the same period in 2013, an increase of 52.2%.

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"The Government has committed in the Construction 2020 Strategy to supplying 35,000 additional social housing units at a cost of €3.8 billion over the next 6 years. This will create 29,000 jobs in construction and it will reform the way in which social housing is delivered and managed in Ireland."

(CD/JP)