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Evening Herald
Monday, 4 February 2013 Page: 2 Circulation: 62411 Area of Clip: 15400mm Clip ID: 35632 Page 1 of 1

ByKevin Doyle

Number of homes being built is at lowestlevel since records began

of estates can largely be attributed Construction Industry Federation "Unfortunately, it looks like to the over supply after (CIF) director general Tom we will see another slight reduction the boom and the existence of Parlon said 2012 was a very difficult in house building in 2013," huge numbers of ghost estates. year for the Irish housebuildingadded. "Overall the low commencement he The decline of the industiy is industry. rate for 2012 has led in stark contrast with the situation us to forecast another drop in UNSUSTAINABLE in 2006 when almost housing units built during the 100,000 homes were built. "Previously, the lowest level had coming year." The 8,488 homes built in 2012 been the 13,887 units that were Mr Parlon said there were was the smallest number since built in 1970 when the records positive indicators, including 1970 - when a total of 13,887 began, but the total for 2011 increased demand for homes houses were put up. dropped below that mark, and in urban areas. "The banks have The virtual collapse of the 2012 has seen a further fall in also promised to increase the home construction sector is completions," he said. level of mortgages during the playing a large role in the current Mr Parlon said that house coming 12 months," he said. wave of emigration of building reached unsustainable The 2012 home completion young tradespeople, particularly levels during the boom years. figures are also a 19pc fall on to Canada, Australia and New But the industry had now gone homes built the previous year. Zealand. through six successive years of Commenting on the figures, decline. kdoyle@hferald.ie

THE number of houses and apartments built in 2012 shrank to the lowest level since records began 40 years ago. Just 1,000 apartments were finished in past 12 months representing 5pc of the 20,000 which were completed during 2006. The majority of the 8,488 homes homes built in 2012 were 'one-off' properties. And experts predict that this year will see even fewer houses developed. Just 2,333 of those erected in 2012 were in housing estates. The fall-off in the construction