Published: Thursday, 19th January, 2012 3:30pm

39% drop in new builds in Offaly last year

The number of new builds in Offaly plummeted 39% between 2010 and 2011 according to figures released today (Thursday). Two hundred and thirty new builds were recorded in the county last year, down from 380 in 2010 according to statistics from GeoDirectory, which was established by An Post and Ordnance Survey Ireland to create and manage a complete database of commercial and residential buildings in Ireland.

Offaly's total of 230 new builds last year was made up of 189 residential buildings, 33 commercial buildings and eight dual-purpose buildings. The county's total number of buildings by end of last year was recorded as 31,545.

Across the country 12,237 new buildings were recorded last year, bringing the total number of buildings in the Republic of Ireland to 1,885,785. Offaly's decrease of 39% was larger than the national average, which stands at 30%.

Neighbouring county Laois showed a 12% drop in new builds between 2010 and 2011, while Westmeath showed a massive 49% drop in the same period. The biggest decrease in the country was recorded in Sligo, with a 63% drop in new building additions between 2010 and 2011. Cavan, Dublin, Kildare, Limerick and Waterford bucked the national trend with an increase in new builds however.

Commenting on the new figures GeoDirectory General Manager Dara Keogh said after a peak in 2007 with an addition of 96,000 buildings added nationwide the last five years has shown an overall drop of 87% in new building additions.

Figures for the first six months of 2012 are expected from the organisation in early July.