Archive for February 2025

The estimated number of people in employment in the fourth quarter of 2024 stood at just under 2.8 million, up 2.6% compared with the previous year, the Central Statistics Office’s latest Labour Force survey reveals. There was a slight quarterly fall in the numbers in employment, which decreased by 18,400, but there was also a…

The State needs to take the lead on data centre policy in order to ensure the ongoing strength of the wider digital infrastructure industry here, according to the chair of Digital Infrastructure Ireland. Reacting to the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities proposed rules for new data centres in Ireland, announced earlier this week, Maurice…

The Irish State is to take part in a major international property conference in France next month in an effort to attract investment into residential construction. Senior officials from the Department of Housing and the Department of Enterprise will be joined by executives from the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund, the IDA and the Irish property…

Residential property prices grew by 8.7% in the year to December, marking a slowdown from a revised 9.6% growth seen in the previous month, new figures from the Central Statistics Office show today. But today’s CSO figures show that average home prices are about €200,000 more expensive than they were just over a decade ago.…

A new survey from the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland has forecast a 1.4% rise in average prime office rents this year, with capital values rising by 1%. The survey also predicts prime industrial values to rise by 3.2%, with prime rents set to increase by 3.1%. The Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland said this…

The Irish Home Builders’ Association (IHBA) has said it does not believe house completions will increase this year. The organisation said this is due to a drop in the number of viable planning permissions combined with a lack of serviced land, infrastructure and funding for apartments. Last year, housing output fell to 30,000 homes, far…

Data centres are going to be required to make public their carbon emissions and use of renewables, under a new draft policy from the regulator responsible for the energy sector. The proposal is part of a decision published by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) in an effort to provide “clarity” for the sector.…

A €1.5 million fund to foster inclusive, resilient communities and strengthen social cohesion across Ireland has been announced. The fund, run by Rethink Ireland, in partnership with law firm Mason Hayes & Curran and the Department of Rural and Community Development, will provide cash grants and business support to not-for-profits working in communities nationwide. The…

The national residential vacancy rate fell to a new low of 3.8% in the final three months of last year. New figures from GeoDirectory and EY show that the west of Ireland had the highest vacancy rates. Leitrim topped the list at under 12%, followed by Mayo at 10.6% and Roscommon at 10.3%. The lowest…

Exports of goods from Ireland to the US surged by 34% last year, driven by a significant rise in pharmaceuticals, the latest figures from the Central Statistics Office show. President Donald Trump is examining placing tariffs on drug products sold to the US which could have significant ramifications for manufacturers here. Overall Ireland had an…