CORK county had the second highest number of housing completions in the country last year, the latest government figures indicate.

While Cork county saw just 39 new builds commence in November 2025 (down from 118 in November 2024), it has recorded 1,128 completions, which is the second highest after Dublin city.

However the figure falls far short of last year’s total of 4,630 housing completions. November’s commencements include 22 one-off units, nine scheme builds and eight apartments.

Cork city meanwhile recorded its most successful month in November 2025 for housing commencements with 366 starts – down 79% on the previous year.

Up to November 2025 in Cork city there were 941 builds started, including 335 scheme units, 582 apartments, and 24 one-off builds – with indications that the year-end tally will fall far short of 2024’s 4,584.

Housing completions across Cork however were up slightly in 2025, with 2,602 commencements in the first three quarters of the year across Cork city and county compared to 2,513 in the first three quarters of 2024, a 3.5% increase.

In Cork county, completions decreased by 10% from 1,669 for the first three quarters in 2024 to 1,502 in 2025, meaning the year-end total figure is unlikely to surpass the 2,316 commencements recorded in 2024.

Nationally there were 1,531 commencement notices for new homes lodged in November, an increase of 10% on the same period the previous year.

The figures were released as the latest government figures show there were 736 adults in emergency accommodation in Cork in November 2025 - an increase of 24 on the previous month.

There has been a 25% increase in Cork adults seeking emergency accommodation from November 2024 (589) to November 2025.

There are now 799 adults homeless across the South West covering Cork and Kerry -including 113 families comprising 177 adults and 233 children.

Independent Ireland TD Michael Collins called out the latest homelessness figures, which show a new national record with almost 17,000 people, including 5,321 children, now living in emergency accommodation.

He described the latest statistics as ‘an appalling failure and an indictment of a Government that is going backwards on the housing emergency’.

He warned that failed policies are leaving families without stability, security or hope, adding: ‘More families and children are beginning 2026 without a permanent home than ever.

It is utterly shameful... Homelessness, particularly among children, demands decisive legislative action.’