New data from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage indicates that housing construction activity remained robust in May, with the number of new homes commenced more than twice the level recorded a year earlier.

According to the latest release, 2,099 new homes were started in May, an increase of 103% compared with May 2025, when 1,035 units began construction. Since January, 13,120 homes have been commenced — a 161% jump on the 5,033 recorded in the first five months of 2025.

This year's performance builds on strong activity in 2024 and 2025, when 85,723 homes were started, representing a 43% increase on the combined total for 2022 and 2023.

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne TD, said: "Yet again, it is encouraging to see such strong figures when it comes to the number of new homes being started throughout the country – it's what we all need to see at this stage of the year.

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"While it is important to acknowledge the significant challenges now and ahead, it is equally important to highlight that a continued level of intensity of effort will be essential to reach the scale-up required.

"This month's figures indicates momentum is still moving in the right direction. This reflects the hard work and very real progress we have managed to achieve as set out in our ambitious Housing Action Plan, 'Delivering Homes, Building Communities'.

"The Government is deploying all available measures to accelerate housing delivery, as demonstrated by this week's launch of the Housing Infrastructure Investment Fund backed by a commitment of €1 billion euro aimed at getting in, injecting necessary funding, and resolving blockages to key building projects for the homes we need."

Of the 2,099 homes commenced in May, 916 (44%) were scheme dwellings, 713 (34%) were apartments and 470 (22%) were one-off units. Some 44% (922 homes) were in the four Dublin local authorities. By local authority, Fingal County recorded the most starts (299), followed by Dun-Laoghaire Rathdown (292) and South Dublin County (221).