
CSO Statistics show Offaly only granted 4 planning permissions for apartments in Q1 of 2025.
Only 59 apartments have been granted planning permission in the Midlands so far this year.
New CSO statistics have shown the biggest drop is in Offaly from 84 in Q1 2024 to just 4 in the same period this year, a decrease of 95 per cent.
Westmeath sees a drop of 41 per cent from 31 to 18 apartments, with 36 apartments granted in Laois
Offaly recorded the lowest number of house units granted at just 26, while local authorities in Laois approved 85 and 182 in Westmeath.
Ali Ugur from the Banking and Payments Federation says local authorities need to take action so the housing crisis doesn't become even worse: