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.
In brief
- The CSO recorded 1,427 single houses completed in Q2 2026, against 1,482 in Q2 2025 (down 3.7%).
- Across the first half of 2026, 2,838 single houses were completed, 9.7% more than the 2,588 in the first half of 2025.
- Single houses were about 16% of the 8,823 new dwellings completed in the quarter. Scheme houses and apartments make up the rest.
- Cork County (165), Galway County (127) and Donegal (103) had the most single-house completions.
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) published new dwelling completion figures for the second quarter of 2026 on 30 July 2026. It counts a one-off house built for its owner as a “single house”.
How many one-off houses were finished?
1,427 single houses were completed in Q2 2026, 3.7% fewer than the 1,482 in Q2 2025. Over the first half of the year the picture is the reverse: 2,838 completions against 2,588, up 9.7%.
| Quarter | Single houses | All new dwellings |
|---|---|---|
| Q2 2025 | 1,482 | 9,152 |
| Q3 2025 | 1,496 | 9,197 |
| Q4 2025 | 1,790 | 11,959 |
| Q1 2026 | 1,411 | 7,856 |
| Q2 2026 | 1,427 | 8,823 |
Single-house numbers move far less from quarter to quarter than the total. Scheme houses and apartments, built in large batches, account for most of the swings.
Where are they being built?
The counties with the most single-house completions in Q2 2026 were:
| County | Single houses, Q2 2026 |
|---|---|
| Cork County | 165 |
| Galway County | 127 |
| Donegal | 103 |
| Meath | 68 |
| Clare | 68 |
County figures for one quarter are small and can vary a lot. Donegal, for example, had 120 in Q2 2025.
What does this mean for you?
A steady rate of about 1,400 to 1,500 a quarter means self-building is a regular route to a home, not a rare one. It also means the builders, architects and engineers you want are busy. Ask early about their availability, and get a start date in writing.
- Read how planning permission for a one-off house works, including the local need rules in rural housing policy.
- Budget with what it costs to build a house in Ireland.
This article reports published statistics. It is not a forecast.
Sources
Last reviewed 30 July 2026. Rules and figures change, so confirm anything important with the source before you rely on it.
- NDQ06: New Dwelling Completions by Type of House and Local AuthorityCentral Statistics Office
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