Housing permits soar 47% but questions remain over supply

the number of housing units that received planning permissions between October and the end of December rose to over 11,180, compared with the almost 7,600 units in the same period a year earlier

The CSO figures show that most of the new planning permissions in the quarter were for apartments. Picture: PA

Official figures showing a sharp 47% rise in the number of planning permissions in the final three months of the year will bolster hopes more homes will be built this year, but questions remain about future home targets amid the severe housing crisis, a leading expert has said. 

The Central Statistics Office (CSO) said the number of housing units that received planning permissions between October and the end of December rose to just over 11,180, compared with the almost 7,600 units approved in the same period a year earlier.