Future supply of new housing in Galway City could dry up if the latest trend continued as new figures confirmed residential construction starts fell off a cliff in the first quarter of this year.

Just one Commencement Notice for new homes in Galway City was received by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage in the first three months of 2025.

The data showed that the single new house commenced in January — but no new residential construction began in February or March in Galway City.

This was the lowest level of construction starts in the first quarter of any year since records began in 2014.

A Department spokesperson insisted the reduction was anticipated after financial supports to developers were phased out late last year and told the Galway City Tribune its focus had shifted to delivery of the pipeline of housing already started.

The latest figures for quarter one of 2025 showed that new building ground to a halt in the city – compared with the first quarter of last year when there were 202 residential construction starts including 37 Commencement Notices in January, 83 in February and 82 in March.

The Department’s figures highlighted that last year in Galway City was the busiest for Commencement Notices issued of any year over the past decade.

The complete lack of new starts in first quarter of 2025 followed on a record December when a whopping 209 Commencement Notices were lodged in Galway City – it suggested developers were trying to start projects before Government supports ceased.

In County Galway, there were just 95 Commencement Notices in the first quarter of 2025 – a reduction of almost 70% compared with the same period last year.

There was a reduced number of new residential starts in County Galway in January (14, down from 28 last year), February (37, down from 154) and March (44, down from 126).

Last year was also a record year for residential construction starts in County Galway, with 1,520 Commencement Notices issued in 2024, the greatest number in a decade.

The Department’s data showed that nationally just 723 homes commenced in March 2025, compared with 4,909 Commencement Notices in the same month in 2024. Of the 723, just 44 or 6% were in Galway.

A Department of Housing spokesperson said: “Following on from over 101,800 Commencement Notices received over the two years to end 2024, and the expiration of the Development Levy Waiver and Water Connection Rebates in late 2024, the reduction in notices lodged in Q1 2025 was not unexpected.

“Activity in Q1 likely reflects shift in focus in the construction sector to progressing those homes already in the pipeline.

“The Government continues to be focused on boosting delivery in the immediate term, pending completion of a new national housing plan in the summer.”