The number of new housing units completed in 2021 came to 20,526, according to the latest figures from the Central Statistics Office.
That was 0.5% fewer than the 20,526 completed in 2020. There was an increase of just over 30% in the number of apartments built to 5,107.
Single dwellings fell by 5.3% to 4,682 while scheme dwellings fell by 8.7% to 10,644. Various experts have estimated the number of new housing units which need to be built every year to match the increase in the population is approximately between 35,000-40,000.
Apartments accounted for 25% of the units completed last year, schemes 52.1% and single homes 22.9%. 2021 was the first year that more apartments than single homes were completed.