Three local authorities are failing to meet targets on new home inspections.

The Irish Independent says Fingal, South Dublin and Tipperary county councils are not reaching the minimum threshold set by the Department of Environment.

The inspections are carried out to ensure buildings are of a high enough standard.

The Performance Indicators in Local Authorities report also reveals that the number of home inspections has fallen for the third year in a row.

Only 22% of all new buildings are inspected across the country - or 2,400 out of 11,000 completed homes.

However the report also found that the inspection rate increased in 11 counties - Carlow, Kerry, Kilkenny, Leitrim, Longford, Mayo, Meath, Monaghan, Roscommon, Sligo and Waterford.