The number of planning permissions given for houses has dropped by almost 25 per cent in a year, according to the Central Statistics Office.
A total of 14,177 dwellings were granted permission in the first quarter of the year, compared to 18,582 in the same period in 2008, the figures show.
Planning permissions was granted for 10,256 houses in the first quarter of 2009 and 13,301 in the first quarter of 2008, a decrease 22.9 per cent. Planning permissions were granted for 3,921 apartment units,
compared with 5,281 units for the same period in 2008, a decrease of 25.8 per cent.
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One-off houses accounted for 19.3 per cent of all new dwelling units granted planning permission in the first quarter.