Munster drives rise in home builds

Munster was the only region to see an increase in residential building project starts in the first quarter of this year.

New data from construction research firm Building Information Ireland shows a 146% surge in the level of residential building activity in the region in the first three months of 2015 against the same period last year. That rise includes a combination of starts, planning applications, and planning approvals.

The other three regions measured — Dublin, the rest of Leinster, and Connacht/Ulster — all showed annualised declines in this regard. Combined residential activity fell 27% in the Dublin area. The decline was more pronounced at 45% in the rest of Leinster and amounted to 42% in Connacht/Ulster.