Development contribution waiver: 72 days to complete your house
A house that used the temporary waiver must be complete by 31 December 2026. The Minister said on 1 October there will be no further extension.
News for self-builders
What changed, who it affects, and what is already law versus only announced. Each article links to the guide on the topic and lists its sources.
One-off house starts are up 23% in 2026, Department of Housing figures show
Commencement notices for 3,501 single homes were lodged in January to September 2026, against 2,853 in 2025. A rush before the waiver ended inflated 2024.
House prices up 4.9% in the year to August 2026, CSO says
The CSO says house prices were 4.9% higher in August 2026 than a year earlier, the slowest annual rise in a year. What it means for your site and build.
Budget 2027: what it means for your self-build
How Budget 2027 affects your self-build: higher Help to Buy, property tax changes and support if you rent during construction.
Help to Buy rises to €35,000: what it means for self-builders
The Help to Buy cap rose by €5,000, to €35,000, from 7 October 2026. You only get the full rise if your home's valuation and the tax you have paid qualify.
Building materials cost 3.3% more than a year ago, CSO figures show
The CSO's wholesale price index for building materials was 3.3% higher in August 2026 than a year earlier. Steel reinforcement rose most; cement fell.
Planning permissions for dwellings rose 8% in the first half of 2026, CSO says
The 3,386 permissions granted for dwellings in the first half of 2026 are up 8% on a year earlier (1,597 in Q2, up 4%). What it means if you await a decision.
ECB rate rises to 2.5%: what it means for your self-build mortgage
The ECB raised its deposit rate twice in 2026, to 2.50%. What that changes for a self-build mortgage drawn in stages, and what it doesn't.
1,427 one-off houses were finished in Q2 2026, CSO figures show
The CSO counted 1,427 single houses completed in the second quarter of 2026, 3.7% fewer than a year earlier. Cork and Galway built the most.
Draft rural housing rules: what the local need test would look like
The draft rural housing statement would need 7 years living within 10km and a promise to live in the house for 10 years. The 2005 rules still apply.