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.

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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)