The number of homes beginning construction across Ireland has seen a 17% increase for May 2022.

Commencement Notices data was unveiled, showing 2,746 notices for new residential homes were received by Building Control Authorities in May 2022, a 17% increase on April 2022 figures of 2,346.

Commencement Notices data indicates the number of homes on which construction commenced in any given month.

In the past 12 months (June 2021 to May 2022), Commencement Notices for 30,233 new homes were received. On a rolling 12-month basis, the total number of homes for which Commencement Notices were received is 18.5% higher than the previous 12-month period of June 2020 to May 2021 (Commencement Notices received for 25,501 new homes). However, the figures are not directly comparable due to the pandemic-related restrictions on construction during the March 2020 – April 2021 period.

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With the exception of 2020, when significant restrictions on home-building existed due to the pandemic, the number of residential homes for which Commencement Notices were received has increased every year since 2015 (the earliest year for which comparable data is available).

The total number of homes for which Commencement Notices were received in May 2022 (2,746 units) is 17% higher than April 2022 (2,346 units). The figure is 44.7% lower than May 2021 (4,736 units).

However, this can be attributed to a backlog with the high number of Commencement Notices received in April and May 2021 following the ending of pandemic-related restrictions on residential construction from January to April 2021, when there was reduced activity in the first quarter of that year.

The 12-month rolling periods relate to June to May for the years in question.