Increasing numbers choose to rent rather than buy

AN increasing number of people are choosing to rent rather than buy their own homes and the number of private rented dwellings in the country has almost doubled since the early 1990s.

The level of house and apartment building has also risen dramatically since 1996, particularly near Dublin, where urban sprawl continues unabated.

In some parts of the greater Dublin area, homes built since 1996 represent 70% of all housing.