Construction Activity Falls By A Third

Construction activity in Ireland fell by 34% in the first three months of 2010, a new report has revealed.

According to data from the Central Statistics Office (CSO), the volume of output was 34.1% lower in the first quarter compared with the same period in 2009.


The figures were among the largest decreases in the European Union, while the value of production also dropped by 34.8%.

The CSO said the fall in the volume of output was largely due to a slump of more than 48% in residential building work and a 32% drop in non-residential building work.

In the year to the first quarter of 2010, output in the building and construction sector fell by 7.8 % in the 27 EU member states, and slipped 9.9% in the euro area.

(NS/BMcC)