Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge the Deputy's views. New housing completions in 2014 amounted to 11,016 units nationally, an increase of 33% on the 2013 figure, with a further 2,639 units completed in quarter one of this year, an increase of 26% on the previous year. The projections for increased housing output are positive. In respect of planning permissions in the pipeline, planning permissions were granted for 2,144 dwelling units in the third quarter of 2014, compared to 1,400 in the same period of the previous year. This represents an increase of 52%. In line with the general collapse in economic and construction activity, the one-off house building sector contracted dramatically in the period from 2005 to 2013, with the number of units built falling from more than 19,000 to just under 3,000. Positive signs can now be seen, however, with 864 commencement notices for one-off homes recorded during the first four months of this year. If this level of activity persists, we can expect between 2,500 to 3,000 one-off homes to be developed in the current year. I take note of the Deputies concerns, however, and hope to address them in the coming weeks.

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