Leading residential builders expect to significantly increase housing supply next year 

In its latest monthly update, the department cautioned that 'ongoing geopolitical uncertainty is a risk for higher construction costs and worsening viability in the near term'. File picture: PA

The country’s leading residential builders expect to significantly ramp up the supply of homes, with a strong focus on Dublin, Cork, and the Leinster region.

Cairn Homes is on track to build 6,000 units by the end of next year, Glenveagh will deliver up to 3,600 units each year through to 2030, while the O’Flynn Group has pipeline plans to deliver around 10,000 properties in the short to medium term.

A total of 7,856 new homes were completed in the first quarter of 2026, up 33% compared to the same period last year, but the Department of Finance has warned that momentum must continue to increase if housing targets are to be met.

In its latest monthly update, the department cautioned that “ongoing geopolitical uncertainty is a risk for higher construction costs and worsening viability in the near term”.

Despite this, the main construction companies remain confident.

Cairn Homes is currently active on 26 residential development sites, located across Dublin City, Leinster, Cork, and Galway.

“Cairn delivered 2,365 new homes in 2025, and a further circa 1,130 in the first six months of 2026, a 60% increase on the same period in 2025,” a spokesperson said. “In total, Cairn expects to increase its output by 35% across 2026 and 2027, building circa 6,000 homes in that period.”

The O’Flynn Group has a number of sites in Cork, Dublin, and the Greater Dublin area, including 542 new homes in Southwest Gate: A landmark residential scheme on the Naas Rd.

The group recently started construction on lands at Dunkettle in Glanmire, Cork, which will include 550 homes, a creche, and a neighbourhood centre as part of the first phase.

It plans to lodge a planning application shortly for the second phase of the development, which is set to provide another 540 units, giving a total of 1,090 units.

“The first houses in this development will be occupied by early 2027,” a spokesperson said.

Other key O’Flynn Group residential developments in Cork include a 614-unit site at Ballinglanna which is in its final stage; a development of 400 houses, duplexes, and apartments at Arderrow in Ballyvolane; and Lakeview in Midleton, which has planning permission for 276 units with construction advanced on the third phase.

Rahan View in Mallow will provide more than 700 units when all phases are completed, and the 90-acre Ballincollig Town Centre scheme will see 900 units completed, with pipeline planning applications to additionally provide up to 360 residential apartments.

“As well as sites under construction, O’Flynn Group has a number of sites in key strategic locations which are currently in the planning process,” the spokesperson said.

“Of particular note in Cork is Ballincollig, where it has applications for over 1,300 units across two different land holdings, and further applications on additional land holdings due to be made in the coming months.

“O’Flynn Group has worked on identifying key strategic locations in Cork and Dublin where short-, medium-, and long-term residential development will occur. The group now owns or has agreements to purchase lands across a number of areas which will provide pipeline development of circa 10,000 units.”

Glenveagh expects it will deliver 2,750 homes in 2026, and says that its current landbank supports the delivery capacity of between 2,750 and 3,600 units per annum, through to 2030.

The company currently has homes for sale across 10 developments in Dublin, Meath, Cork, and Westmeath.

• Elaine Loughlin is Political Editor.