Slump in planning permissions raises alarm of worsening housing crisis

It had been expected permissions would have increased significantly this year, given the country was in lockdown over long periods in 2020

The figures point to "uncertainty on future housing supply", David Duffy, the director of Property Industry Ireland, the Ibec group, said. 

Figures showing a slump in planning permissions this year has raised alarm that the housing crisis will get worse amid already acute shortages.

The Central Statistics Office figures show the number of new housing units granted planning permission fell to just over 29,540 in the first nine months of the year, down by 15.5% from just over 35,000 permits in 2020. Of the 29,540 permits in the first nine months, most were for apartments, at 18,165.