The cost of rebuilding a home in Donegal has risen by 9% in just the last year alone.
That is according to new figures released by the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland (SCSI) in their 2025 House Rebuilding Guide.
While the increase in costs year-on-year in Donegal and the North West is slightly less than the 12% increase recorded in 2023 and the 10% figure recorded by the SCSI last year here, it still marks another notable hit to the pockets of those forced to rebuild their homes due to the presence of defective blocks.
The largest total increase in rebuilding costs was also recorded in the North West.
SCSI figures show that the increase in cost for rebuilding a 98 square-metre, 3-bed, semi-detached house here year-on-year was €22,350.
That means the price for such a rebuild in Donegal has soared from €247,740 in 2024, to €270,090 in just 12 months.
SCSI Vice President Tomás Kelly, who is a chartered quantity surveyor, says that the level of increase in rebuild costs is above that seen generally in the construction sector as it is more heavily impacted by labour costs and availability.
“The rates received in our survey of quantity surveying members, and in turn the rate of annual inflation determined, is a factor of the level of demand for contractors operating in this sector of the construction industry,” he said.
“Rebuilding work faces stiff competition from other construction work, including new residential construction, and if demand for that increases in an area, this reduces capacity and potentially increases the costs of such reinstatement work.”
“In terms of the main cost drivers, the introduction of two new levies, the Landfill Levy from 1 September 2024 and the Recovery Levy from 1 January 2025, are additional costs for demolition works in particular and construction works more generally.”
The SCSI are also encouraging suitable homeowners to assess the possibility of obtaining home insurance in the case of a potential partial or total loss of their home, due to this surge in rebuilding costs.
The SCSI is urging Donegal homeowners to take the time to ascertain their minimum base cost reinstatement based on house type and location and apply any additional costs based on the specifics of their house.
“While these (rebuild price) increases are significant it does not necessarily mean premiums will increase on a pro-rata basis and homeowners are advised to shop around when seeking insurance cover for their homes. It’s really important for homeowners to put aside ten minutes to use the SCSI House Rebuild Calculator, which is free – to get an estimate minimum reinstatement figure and ensure their home insurance is up to date,” Kelly said.
“If it’s not they need to contact their home insurer. Some insurers may auto adjust insurance policies annually, so homeowners need to satisfy themselves that any quotes they receive are aligned with current rebuild rates.”
Cost of rebuilding homes in Donegal rises 9% in one year was last modified: November 8th, 2025 by Staff Writer