Wexford Housing Commencements Plummet Amid Modest National Growth

The number of housing commencements in County Wexford has dropped sharply for the second consecutive month, highlighting a growing disparity between regional and national trends in residential construction.

According to new data published by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, just 22 new homes began construction in Wexford during August 2025 — down significantly from 42 in July. The figure also represents a dramatic year-on-year decline; 113 homes were commenced in Wexford in August 2022. To date, 324 housing units have commenced construction in Wexford this year — a sharp drop from the 1,267 commencements recorded in the same period last year. The figures indicate a sustained slowdown in building activity across the county, raising concerns about future housing supply. In contrast, national housing commencements rose in August, suggesting that construction activity remains more resilient in urban and high-demand areas. The Department reported that 1,156 commencement notices — a key indicator of residential construction starts — were lodged nationwide in August 2025, marking a 9.2% increase from July’s total of 1,059 units. So far this year, from January to August 2025, a total of 8,540 notices have been received nationwide. On a rolling 12-month basis (September 2024 to August 2025), that number stands at 38,895 units. Of the homes commenced last month: 490 (42.5%) were part of housing schemes, 339 (29.3%) were apartments, and 327 (28.2%) were one-off dwellings. The bulk of new residential construction continues to be concentrated in urban areas. The highest number of commencement notices so far this year have been lodged in: Dublin City (1,522), Cork County (695), and Fingal County (670). The sharp contrast between the growth in national figures and the ongoing decline in Wexford underscores the regional imbalance in housing development. While major urban centres are seeing sustained construction activity, counties like Wexford are experiencing a slowdown that could strain local housing supply in the months and years ahead. Industry observers point to rising construction costs, planning delays, and market uncertainty as contributing factors to the dip in commencements in more rural and regional counties.