The number of residential developments has more than quadrupled since the low point of 2011, with the majority of large-scale developments concentrated in the capital.

There are more positive signs for the construction sector following increases in the number of residential housing planning applications and project starts so far this year.

Work on the construction of new homes has more than doubled over the past year.

There has been a massive increase in planning applications and the number of residential building projects which started in the first two months of the year.

The trend in the Irish construction sector has turned, according to the National Housing Construction Index which is predicting growth in the next quarter.

The house building sector is set to see growth from the next quarter, a new analysis suggests.

Several counties saw annual increases in the numbers of house building projects and planning applications last year, despite both being down on a national basis.

September saw the first signs of growth in the construction sector for more than six years, with activity increasing for the first month since May 2007.

The decline in housing construction continues but there are signs of an improvement emerging in a number of counties, particularly in Dublin.

Civil engineering is the worst performing sector in Ireland, but those still involved in the construction industry are optimistic for the next 12 months, even as its year-on-year decline continues.

House planning applications are down nationally by 3% yet 11 counties show significant increases, with Co Dublin revealing a rise of 15%, the latest National Housing Construction Index reveals.

The number of large extensions and new housing developments being built dropped by 8% last year.

The construction industry is shedding jobs at its fastest pace since May 2011, having seen staffing levels fall every month since May 2007.

House planning applications fell in every county except Donegal this year, the latest National Housing Construction Index reveals.

There has been another major fall in activity in the housing sector, according to the latest National Housing Construction Index.

The first ever all-island Housing Construction Index points to dramatic regional variations in construction activity.

The number of new houses being built and planning applications being submitted is continuing to fall although the rate of decline has slowed since the start of the year.

Owners are putting off planned improvements to their houses with a surge in those seeking extensions to almost expired planning permissions.

House extensions now