Local authority housing built in Wicklow slumped by almost 30% last year, it has been revealed.

Earlier this month State Housing Minister Michael Finneran said around 51,000 new council houses and apartments had been built across Ireland in 2008.

However, just 1,219 of these were built in Wicklow representing a decrease of 28.5% on the figure for 2007.

-- Advertisement --

In 2007 1,704 houses were built by Wicklow County Council.

Mr Finneran said that while there is an easing off in housing activity, he recognised that there are difficulties currently facing the public finances.

"The government is committed to focus on quality in the provision of housing and to addressing the housing needs of the less well off in our society," added the minister.

In Wicklow 441 individual houses were built while 573 scheme houses were built. Around 205 apartments were built under the programme.

(PR/JM)