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The construction sector bounced back in the second three months of this year with the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions, according to the Central Statistics Office.

The completion of houses and apartments is now running at a higher rate than the same period two years ago.

The CSO’s New Dwelling Completions for the second quarter of 2021 show a significant increase in the number of apartments being finished.

1,333 apartments were built – this marks a 154.4% rise compared to the same period last year, when Covid-19 restrictions were in place.

However, it is also more than double, or 101.4% higher than, the second three months of 2019.

There was a 38.2% increase in housing scheme units completed to 2,539. This is 38.2% higher than last year and 10.1% higher than 2019.

Single dwellings were up 32.4% at 1,149 compared to the second quarter last year but were 12.6% lower than the second quarter of 2019.

Of the homes completed from April to June this year, 50.6% were in schemes, 26.5% were apartments and 22.9% were single dwellings.

This is the first time over a quarter of units completed were apartments. Last year in the second quarter, apartments accounted for 16.2% of completions. In 2019, there were 13.8%.

The CSO has also broken down its data according to Local Electoral Areas for the first time. This shows that Blanchardstown-Mulhuddert in west Dublin had the highest number of completions with 185.

And in a fittingly Olympian construction performance, the only electoral area outside Dublin to complete over 100 units was Skibbereen, West Cork with 101 units.

Over two thirds of the apartments completed were in Dublin and 27.1% were in the Mid-East.

Article Source – Construction sector bounces back in second quarter – CSO – RTE – Robert Shortt

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