Research & Innovation

There was a 36% decrease in new buildings in 2013 compared to 2012 figures according to new data published by GeoDirectory. There were a total of 7,943 new buildings in 2013 compared to the 12,541 new buildings recorded in 2012. The total number of buildings in the Republic of Ireland is now 1,900,672.

Dublin was the only county to record an increase in new buildings compared to figures for 2012. The 964 new buildings in Dublin represent a 47% increase on last year’s figures.

The 7,943 new buildings identified across the country by GeoDirectory included 6,750 residential buildings, 1,027 commercial buildings and 166 dual-purpose buildings with both residential and commercial components. With 1,243, Cork had the most new buildings. Longford recorded the least with just 37 new buildings.

Apart from Dublin, every county in the country recorded a decrease in new buildings compared to 2012 figures. With just 48 new buildings, Carlow recorded the largest decrease in new buildings, with a year on year decline of 78%. The smallest decrease was in Louth with a 3% decrease recorded.

The data was published by GeoDirectory which was jointly established by An Post and Ordnance Survey Ireland (OSi) to create and manage Ireland’s only complete database of commercial and residential buildings. These figures are recorded through a combination of the An Post network of 5,600 delivery staff working with OSi.

The new data shows that 1,019 or 13% of this new commercial and residential stock are vacant. A further 1,318 buildings were under construction across the country at the end of the year.

Dara Keogh, CEO, GeoDirectory, says: “The data indicates that Dublin was the only county to achieve year on year growth in the number of new buildings, illustrating a widening gap which is emerging between Dublin and the rest of the country. While there were decreases in new build activity in all other counties, there were notable variations with the rates of decline ranging from 3% to 78% in individual counties.”