Record growth in the housing industry looks set to continue with completions for the first nine months of the year up by more than 13 per cent on the same period in 2003.
Statistics from the Department of the Environment revealed 54,170 units around the country were finished up to the end of September, with north Dublin the biggest growth area.
A total of 5,806 units were finished in Fingal, while 4,253 homes were completed in Cork.
The Minister of State with responsibility for housing, Mr Noel Ahern, said the increase proved the success of Government schemes aimed at boosting supply.
"Indications are that the level of output in 2004 will exceed that of any previous levels in the history of the State," he said. "In fact this phenomenal growth has resulted in over 30 per cent of Ireland's stock having been built in the last 10 years."
Up to September of this year, house completions in Dublin at 12,150 units were up by 15.7 per cent. In the Greater Dublin Area (including the city, county, Kildare, Meath and Wicklow) 18,589 new units saw a jump of 13.1 per cent on the same period in 2003.
Last year saw the largest ever number of house completions since 1993, with 68,819 units finished.
Mr Ahern also pointed to increased funding and high level of activity across social and affordable housing schemes. "The level of activity at the end of June 2004 augurs well for meeting the targets set for these schemes in 2004," the Minister said.
"We expect the significant additional funding being provided in 2004 - over €1.8 billion - will meet the needs of some 13,000 households in 2004 compared to around 8,500 households in 1998."
New house prices rose by 3.5 per cent in the second quarter of this year and second-hand house prices jumped by 10 per cent.
PA