Latest news with #JamesBrowne
BreakingNews.ie
a day ago
- Business
- BreakingNews.ie
Browne welcomes 35% increase in home completions in second quarter of 2025
There was a 35 per cent increase in the number of homes completed in the second quarter of this year compared to last year, according to new figures. 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.'
BreakingNews.ie
a day ago
- Business
- BreakingNews.ie
Housing completions up 35% compared to last year, figures show
There was a rise in the number of new homes built in the second quarter of the year, new figures show. There were 9,214 new dwelling completions across April, May and June this year, according to the Central Statistics Office, a rise of 35 per cent on the same three months of 2024. Advertisement This is the second consecutive quarter that an increase in new home completions has been reported. There were 4,643 scheme dwelling completions in the three-month period, an increase of 17 per cent from the same time last year. The number of single dwellings completed was 1,518, up 13 per cent from last year. More than half of the completions were scheme dwellings, 33 per cent were apartments, and 17 per cent were single dwellings. Advertisement There was an increase in completions compared to last year in six out of eight regions, including an 85 per cent rise in Dublin to 3,822 completions. Commenting on the figures, Minister for Housing James Browne said: "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. "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." Ireland Planners refuse permission for 650 new homes on ou... Read More Ian Lawlor, managing director of Roundtower Capital, said the increase in housing completions was encouraging, but the figures were still nowhere near where they needed to be. Advertisement "Ultimately, unless there's an exponential increase in housing delivery, steep house price and rent inflation will persist and homes will continue to be unaffordable for a large cohort of young people," he said. "We are calling for emergency housing legislation that would fast-track developments of national importance, overriding the legal delays and local inconsistencies that currently hamper builders' ability to deliver projects efficiently. "Just as Ireland demonstrated its capacity to build pandemic hospitals within weeks and mobilise resources overnight, we must now apply that same energy and coordination to housing delivery."
Irish Independent
a day ago
- Business
- Irish Independent
Housing completions rose by 35pc in the second quarter of this year
The total was also a big improvement on the 5,938 completions of the first quarter of the year, according to new data released by the Central Statistics Office. Apartment completions in Q2 stood at 3,053, more than double the number built in the same quarter of last year, reflecting an uptick in a sector which developers have regarded as uneconomic. There were 1,566 apartment completions in the second quarter of 2024. The year-on-year increase in completions of new dwellings was seen in six of the eight regions of Ireland, including an 85pc rise in Dublin to 3,822. More than eight in 10 of the apartment completions were in the capital city, and the CSO says that 97pc of all completions in the Dublin City Council area over the last three months were apartments. The figures mean that the total number of new dwellings completed in the first half of 2025 is 15,152, which is up from 12,730 recorded at the same time last year. At this point in 2023, there had been 13,923 completions. The Government has an official target of 41,000 units this year, which it is standing by, although Mr Browne recently conceded that the aim is 'not realistic'. It was set before the general election last year, at a time when the then Government was predicting up to 40,000 houses would be built in 2024. In the event, the number was 30,300. Several independent bodies, such as the Central Bank and the ESRI, are predicting that output this year will be somewhere between 32,000 and 34,000. Building completions are often at a higher level in the second half of the year, so there could well be an improvement on the 15,152 of H1, but the final figure is likely to be in line with the Central Bank's estimate. James Browne, the minister for housing, has been pulling a variety of policy levers in a bid to improve construction output. Earlier this month he announced that big social housing projects being developed by local authorities will no longer have to go through a four-stage process to get approval and funding. This is being reduced to one stage. The minister also issued new design standards for apartments, reducing the minimum size allowed. They can now be as small as 32 square metres, and restrictions on the mix of apartment sizes in new developments have also been relaxed. His department has said the changes should result in a saving of between €50,000 and €100,000 in the cost of building an average apartment. Developers who already have planning permission for apartments can now change their designs in line with the new regulations. It now appears that the construction industry has turned its focus to completing many of the dwellings that were officially 'commenced' last year. There were only 1,356 commencement notices for new homes lodged in June, the lowest total for that month since 2020, during Covid. The Department of Housing said the total number of commencements in the year to date was 6,325. At the same point last year, it was 34,581, a figure that was artificially inflated as developers were rushing to avail of a waiver on water-connection charges and development levies.
Irish Independent
2 days ago
- Business
- Irish Independent
Over €3m awarded to Galway rural water schemes
Housing Minister James Browne announced a €74 million investment across the country, €3.4 million of which will be given to Galway to improve rural water schemes. Fianna Fáil TD for Galway East, Albert Dolan said: 'This is a landmark day for rural communities in Galway and right across the country. I'm particularly delighted to confirm that over €3.4 million will directly benefit group water schemes here in County Galway. This investment ensures that more homes and families in rural areas can access clean, safe and secure water.' Water compliance, source protection, and leakage reduction are among the priority improvements to bring water services up to 'par with urban centres.' Deputy Dolan said in a statement that this is furthering efforts to invest and commit to water infrastructure and the future of rural Ireland. It is noted that the funding will be invested in a range of key areas, from water quality compliance and source protection to leakage reduction and the expansion of piped public water supply connections. Among the major Galway projects receiving support are: Kilbannon Group Water Scheme – €450,000. Peterswell\Castledaly GWS – €254,000 New Inn - Corrabaun Group Water Scheme – €210,316 'This investment will make a big difference for generations to come. Investment like this lays the groundwork for future growth, from building new homes to supporting local development into the future across county Galway.' Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
RTÉ News
3 days ago
- Business
- RTÉ News
Govt to discuss checks on legal challenges to planning decisions
Businesses and individuals bringing legal challenges to planning decisions will face additional restrictions under changes being discussed at Cabinet today. Minister for Housing James Browne is reforming the area of judicial reviews in Irish planning amid Government frustration at delays in securing permission for large housing developments. It is understood that the "leave to apply" stage of the judicial review will be removed as it is believed this is not functioning properly as a screening measure for valid cases. The aim of the change is to save time and costs. In addition, all applicants must provide evidence of sufficient grounds and sufficient interest. The protected status of environmental NGOs to take judicial review proceedings is maintained. Greater limits will also be put on the number of amended grounds applicants may add to their judicial reviews. The new rules will only apply to decisions made under the Planning and Development Act of 2024. The section of the Act relating to judicial reviews will come into force on 1 August 2025. Separately, Mr Browne will bring a memo to Cabinet providing for nearly €74m funding for rural community water schemes. This will fund 291 projects nationwide, covering 63,000 households. The Cabinet will also hear that the Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill will defer the introduction of health warnings on alcohol labels for two years. This is due to concerns raised about the impact of the move in the current global trading environment. The labeling requirement was due to come in next year but it is expected to be deferred until 2028. Meanwhile, Minister for Children, Disability and Equality Norma Foley will bring a memo to Cabinet to bring the Tuam intervention office under the indemnity of State Claims Agency. This will allow the State Claims Agency to handle any potential claims in relation to the Office of the Director of Authorised Intervention, Tuam. Minister for Enterprise Peter Burke will bring an action plan on market diversification for Irish exporters threatened by tariffs.
