Over 1,000 housing commencements in Waterford in last 12 months

Minister of State for Planning & Local Government, John Cummins TD has welcomed news that housing commencement figures in Waterford have exceeded 1,000 units in the last 12 months.

Recent figures published by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage have outlined that a total of 1,039 homes commenced construction in Waterford in the period from April 2025 to March 2026.

The number of homes commenced in Waterford during this period is the fourth highest in

Ireland, behind Dublin, Cork and Meath.

In Waterford, 149 homes were commenced in March 2026 while a total of 659 homes have commenced locally in the first quarter of 2026.

Minister Cummins said: “It is really encouraging to see over 1,000 homes have commenced construction locally within the past year. All stakeholders remain aligned and committed to maintaining this positive trajectory in order to enhance housing delivery across County Waterford. The Government’s strategy continues to focus on addressing key constraints, activating serviced land, and ensuring that local authorities and builders are fully supported to deliver housing at scale.”

Nationally, 8,040 homes were commenced in the first quarter of 2026, an increase of almost 200% on the same period last year. In March alone, 2,939 homes were commenced – an increase of almost 300% on March 2025.

Minister Cummins concluded: “While notable progress has been achieved, I do acknowledge that ongoing and consistent effort will be essential. There is a clear determination to build on this momentum. As the new national housing plan progresses, gradual improvements are anticipated alongside continued decisive measures to accelerate the provision of much-needed homes.”