CSO figures just released show that in the first quarter of 2015, planning permissions were granted for 3,155 dwelling units, compared with 1,604 units for the same period in 2014, an increase of 96.7%

Planning Permissions were granted for 2,514 houses in the first quarter of 2015 and 1,446 in the first quarter of 2014, an increase of 73.9%.

While the figures sow that planning permissions were granted for 641 apartment units, compared with 158 units for the same period in 2014, an increase of 305.7%.

One-off houses accounted for 28.8 % of all new dwelling units granted planning permission in this quarter.

The total number of planning permissions granted for all developments was 3,895. This compares with 3,833 in the first quarter of 2014, an increase of 1.6%.

Total floor area planned was 952 thousand square metres in the first quarter of 2015. Of this, 54.3% was for new dwellings, 24.1% for other new constructions and 21.6% for extensions.  The total floor area planned increased by 28.0% in comparison with the same quarter in 2014.

Planning Permissions for new buildings for Agriculture increased to 112 this quarter. This compares to 93 permissions in the same quarter of 2014.