Downturn obvious as just three planning applications

In a stark indication of the slowdown in the construction industry, Offaly County Council received a total of just three applications for planning permission last week. An occurrence which was virtually unknown during the Celtic Tiger years - a day without a single planning application being received by the local authority - occurred twice last week, on Wednesday and Thursday. The drop in the number of planning applications is particularly stark when compared with figures from previous Januarys. A look at the planning list on a sample week in January of 2008 showed that 18 planning applications had been received by Offaly County Council, while a sample week in January 2007 showed that 15 applications were received. Although the level of planning applications tended to fluctuate, it would not have been unusual for Offaly County Council to receive 20-30 applications in a week during the Celtic Tiger