New figures show a jump of nearly a fifth in the number of planning applications being lodged around the country.

The National Housing Construction Index shows more than half of all counties recorded an increase in the first half of the year, compared to the same period in 2013.

Nationally, there has been a 19% increase in applications lodged.

There has also been an increase of 66% in the number of projects actually getting underway.

However growth in the project commencement category has slowed since March, when new regulations took effect.

The figures are compiled by Link2Plans and its Managing Director Danny O' Shea has been examining how the planning application increases have been shared out. He says that despite numbers dropping in some counties, nationally the figures are very positive: