Housing starts fall 73% over the summer

Irish housing starts took a further downward turn over the summer, as builders respond to weaker demand and a significant number of unsold stock.

According to HomeBond, the biggest agency which registers home-building starts, registrations declined by 70% year-on-year in August.

In the three months to August, Homebond registered 1,800 units, 73% below the same period in 2007 and the lowest number for any three months since the figures began in 1995.