Browne welcomes 35% increase in home completions in second quarter of 2025
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) said there were 9,214 new dwellings completed in April, May and June this year, meaning a total of 15,152 homes have been built to date.
Advertisement
Housing Minister James Browne has welcomed the significant boost to Ireland's housing supply after coming under pressure for rental, tenancy and other housing reforms.
The figures indicate that apartment completions in this timeframe were double what they were in the same period last year, and scheme dwellings were up 17 per cent.
The number of single dwellings completed was up 13 per cent in the same three months last year.
More than four in 10 completions during the quarter were in Dublin, with 17 per cent in the Mid-East region (counties Louth, Meath, Kildare, and Wicklow).
Advertisement
The region with the largest relative increase in completions was Dublin at 85 per cent, up to 3,822 in the second quarter of this year compared to 2,062 last year.
More than eight in ten (83 per cent) apartment completions in this period were in Dublin (2,528), and in Dublin City, 97 per cent of completions were apartments.
After a 2 per cent increase on quarter one and 35 per cent increase on quarter two of last year, Mr Browne said he was determined to accelerate the pace of housing delivery.
'Supply is central to dealing with all the key challenges in housing, so the figures published today are a welcome development and will be of huge benefit to the families and individuals who will live in these homes,' he said.
Advertisement
'Nonetheless, this Government remains committed to achieving its ambitious housing targets and I am determined to accelerate the pace of delivery to ensure even more substantial progress in the period ahead.
'There is no single solution to our housing challenges, a multi-faceted approach is required.
'This is why this government has implemented planning reforms to extend permissions for developments approaching the end of their timeframe, introduced targeted measures to increase rental supply and attract investment in the residential sector, and rolled out new supports to assist both prospective homebuyers and renters.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BreakingNews.ie
3 hours ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Accountant who defrauded farmer in mortgage deception case gets suspended sentence
An accountant and property developer who defrauded a farmer by taking out a €54,000 mortgage on his behalf and using it to pay off his debts nearly 20 years ago has been handed an 18-month suspended prison sentence. Francis Joseph Woods (75) applied for a mortgage for an investment property in Manchester on the injured party's behalf in 2007 in his capacity as the director of a property development company, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard. Advertisement The farmer, who used Woods' accountancy firm and knew Woods personally since he had managed his own father's business, paid a deposit of €14,000 and signed a loan document after meeting Woods and a mortgage broker in a pub. When he did not hear anything further in relation to the investment property, the farmer asked for his deposit back, which was eventually returned to him in 2008. However, the following year, the man was contacted by Ulster Bank and informed he was in debt to the mortgage amount of €54,500 plus interest. Woods, of Damestown, The Naul, Dublin, pleaded guilty to one count of defrauding the man on a date between August 2007 and November 2007. A mortgage drawdown letter purporting to be signed by the injured party was uncovered during the garda investigation. Advertisement It is the State's case that Woods used the mortgage money to pay costs related to his property development business. The garda investigation started in 2015 when the farmer made a complaint to gardaí. Woods was questioned in 2019 and made some admissions, telling gardaí he was in financial difficulty at the time. He has no previous convictions apart from some minor road traffic matters from 25 years ago. A victim impact statement was handed into court but not read aloud. Sentencing Woods on Friday, Judge Orla Crowe said that Woods had been a 'trusted adviser' to the injured party, and breached this trust, which was an aggravating factor. Advertisement Judge Crowe said this was a 'grievous breach of trust by a professional qualified person in a fiduciary position' who had 'abused that fiduciary position'. She noted the victim impact statement outlined the 'terrible impact' on the injured party, who still owes a 'significant amount' of money. Ireland Enoch Burke wins appeal over composition of discip... Read More The judge said the injured party wanted Woods to know that he trusted him and had considered him to be a 'pillar of the community'. She said the mitigation included the guilty plea, a token of remorse of €10,000 and that he has not come to recent negative garda attention. The judge said she also took into account Woods's health issues and the contents of testimonials, many of which spoke of the defendant's honesty, adding that the court noted he was dishonest on this occasion, and 'fell into temptation'. She imposed a sentence of 18 months, suspended on strict conditions.
Times
3 hours ago
- Times
Gavin Lambe-Murphy: why I'm selling coffee and plimsolls on Leeson Street
He personified the high spirits, deep pockets and frenetic socialising of the Celtic tiger era. Now, more than 20 years after the self-styled It boy Gavin Lambe-Murphy disappeared from the Dublin party circuit and the social pages of every glossy magazine and weekend supplement, the 49-year-old is back in the media with his new venture, a concept store called Baggotonia. Located on Leeson Street Upper in Dublin, the bijou boutique/deli/exhibition space quietly opened in spring with its 'eclectic mix of stylish items', from pantry goods and plimsoles to perfume and ceramics, and is, Lambe-Murphy declares, his first 'proper job'. He's on the shop floor every day, he explains, though not nine to five mind you; from about 10.30am to 3pm you can catch the former poster boy for early Noughties excess selling Italian olive oil and Kinsale-made candles to Dublin 4 locals. 'It's quirky and it's different,' Lambe-Murphy says of the venture, which he established with his longtime friend and business partner Noelle McCarthy, owner of Blow hair salons and holder of the lease to the Baggotonia premises (it sits next door to Blow's flagship salon). While the idea of a concept store is not new to the capital, Lambe-Murphy's proprietorship and regular presence there appears to be a USP. 'People often come in and ask, 'Is Gavin here?' And the number of people who come in and ask for a selfie with me …' he says, laughing. Two decades after Ireland's boom and bust, there remains a fascination with the tall blond Malahide native, who went through his own personal, and highly publicised, rise and fall. From extrovert to addict in a few short years, Lambe-Murphy vanished from the merry-go-round of exclusive events and private parties he frequented and wound up in rehab for a cocaine addiction that at its height was costing him a reported €80 a day. 'I had to cut a lot of people out of my life and clean it up,' he says of that time. 'It was a very intense period. Today, everybody is a celebrity on their iPhone, but back then it was different.' Part of the healing process was leaving Dublin. 'I bounced around Italy, Spain and London with my partner, I wrote a book, I spent a lot of time in Rome,' he says. 'I just spent time doing what I needed to do.' • 100 things to do in Dublin — shops, walks, sights and magical secret spots Lambe-Murphy's mood is consistently lighthearted and affable, even when talking about addiction and recovery. He's at peace with his past and says he has no desire to shake off his former persona. 'It's part of who I was and who I am,' he reflects. It's only when the entrepreneur speaks about his mum that his tone becomes a touch more solemn. The former model died in April and he describes the past few months as a 'tough time' despite the initial success of his new business venture. 'Mum was cool,' he says. 'The only time she ever gave out to me was when I hit rock bottom. She simply said, 'Too far, darling. You've gone too far.' I feel blessed that I had a mum I could call up on the good days and the bad days. I do miss that. It's still very raw.' Lambe-Murphy says his 'on-again-off-again' partner of 20 years has 'really stepped up and been there for me in a genuine and sincere way' since his mum died. He's a cosmetic surgeon based in Monte Carlo, which means Lambe-Murphy is still a frequent flyer and his globetrotting has informed both his midlife style and the aesthetic of Baggotonia. 'A courier came into the store yesterday and said, 'Oh my God, you've got such good style. You look like an Italian.' I'll take that all day long,' he says, laughing. The shop has a similarly continental vibe, he reveals. 'Lots of customers say they don't feel like they're in Dublin when they're inside Baggotonia; it's more like a store in London or Rome. We're blessed that the building is so characterful with its exposed brick, but the carpets, perfumed air and lighted candles make people want to stay all day.' It sounds more like a Parisian salon and the ideal place to host a sell-out art exhibition, which Lambe- Murphy did recently. 'The artist David McDermott created a limited-edition print run of artist's proofs for us and they were gone in three days.' Baggotonia's bestsellers are jewellery, wine, art and pantry products. 'The plan is to run as is until the end of August and then decide if we need to tweak or streamline our offering,' he explains. 'Customers say they love what we do, but there's a lot of different angles going on in one relatively small space,' he says, confirming his own home in Dublin 2 is 'very minimal'. 'The great thing about a concept store is that you can do anything you want with it. We could stick an ice-cream machine in here and nobody would be surprised. It can keep evolving.' Just like its owner.
Reuters
4 hours ago
- Reuters
Construction Insurance Risk Education (CIRE) Seeks National Education Provider to Expand Verified Learning Nationwide
OLYMPIA, WA, July 25, 2025 (EZ Newswire) -- Construction Insurance Risk Education (CIRE), opens new tab, a leading provider of innovative training at the intersection of construction and insurance, has announced it is actively seeking a National Education Provider to deliver its educational platform across all 50 U.S. states. Founded during the COVID-19 pandemic by an insurance veteran, Treacy Duerfeldt, CIRE was born out of a frustration with traditional, outdated educational models. 'After taking the same insurance courses for nearly 30 years, reading PDFs and answering repetitive questions every two years, I realized the industry wasn't helping professionals grow, it was just checking boxes,' said Duerfeldt. 'CIRE is here to change that.' The company's mission is clear: offer engaging, story-driven education that brings construction professionals and insurance agents together in a shared language. 'One of the biggest reasons for uncovered claims or overpriced premiums is a fundamental lack of mutual understanding,' Duerfeldt added. 'CIRE's model doesn't just inform, it unites.' CIRE's platform already includes over 24 hours of polished and accredited video-based material, featuring dynamic instruction, scenario-based quizzes, and segmentation designed for better retention and real-time learning verification. 'We interrupt the passive experience,' said Duerfeldt. 'Our quizzes don't just follow the lesson; they are integrated within it to ensure knowledge is actually being absorbed.' Through a previous regional education provider, CIRE has already operated successfully in 30 states. That partnership allowed the platform to earn certification even in rigorous jurisdictions like California and Florida. But now, with growing national demand and strong endorsements from industry leaders, the time has come to scale. 'We have validated our content through regulators and real users,' Duerfeldt said. 'The next step is to find a platform partner who shares our passion for verified learning and has the infrastructure to operate nationwide.' The ideal national education provider, according to Duerfeldt, will have experience working with state insurance regulators and be prepared to manage course availability, administrative compliance, and distribution logistics. CIRE will continue to provide all core content and will lead community-based live sessions, advanced seminars for alumni, and ongoing curriculum updates. CIRE is particularly seeking a provider with the capability and the commitment to recertify its program across all 50 states. 'We are not looking for someone to coast,' said Duerfeldt. 'We are looking for a platform provider who's invested in the mission of bridging the gap between construction and insurance through real education, not just checking a box.' The company's philosophy of 'verified learning' underpins every aspect of its offering. 'We don't hand out certificates just for showing up. We want learners to actually know what they are doing,' he emphasized. 'That's how we shift the culture, lower risk, and ultimately improve outcomes for the entire construction ecosystem.' CIRE's offerings span a wide array of construction-specific topics, including cyber liability, general liability, workers' comp, automobile insurance, builders' risk, bonding, and coverage planning, each designed to be both accessible to contractors and technically robust for agents. With its innovative format, proven course content, and industry endorsements already in place, CIRE's next chapter hinges on the right partner. 'Our curriculum is ready. Our mission is clear. Now we need a provider who's ready to help us bring real education to the people building America, and the people protecting them.' About Construction Insurance Risk Education (CIRE) Founded by insurance veteran Treacy Duerfeldt, Construction Insurance Risk Education (CIRE) delivers innovative, verified learning programs that bridge the gap between construction and insurance. Based in Olympia, Washington, CIRE offers accredited, story-driven courses designed to transform industry understanding nationwide. For more information, visit: opens new tab Media Contact Treacy Duerfeldt treacy2@ ### SOURCE: Construction Insurance Risk Education (CIRE) Copyright 2025 EZ Newswire See release on EZ Newswire
