The Government is being warned to support the construction industry or face more cases like Priory Hall.

The Dublin apartment complex was evacuated during the week over fire safety concerns.

Launching its pre-Budget submission, the Construction Industry Federation (CIF) said Ireland needs a construction industry that is capable of delivering major infrastructure programmes and buildings, not one that delivers 'Priory Halls'.

The CIF is calling on the Minister for Finance Michael Noonan to prioritise employment retention and development in the Budget.

It has also criticised existing efforts to address the black economy in building, home repair and maintenance.

-- Advertisement --

The CIF is urging the Government to spend an additional €2bn to fund capital spending projects.

Priory Hall

A Derry-born developer has came under attack after sub-standard work led to the eviction of 180 residents from his Priory Hall housing complex in Dublin.

Even Taoiseach Enda Kenny has criticised the developer, Thomas McFeely, who was behind the ill-fated complex saying that if he had done his job properly this would not have happened.

Mr Kenny said 180 residents of the Donaghmede development have been evacuated to a hotel because of fire safety concerns.

It was revealed that there were no firewalls between the apartments which people purchased in good faith as their homes.

Mr Kenny said he has great sympathy for those involved: "This wouldn't have arisen in the first place if Mr McFeely had done his job properly," he said, also referring to what he called the Londonderry-born man's "chequered history".

Mr McFeely - a former IRA hunger striker whose construction company Coalport built the 187-apartment Priory Hall complex - and fellow developer Larry O'Mahony were ordered by the High Court to surrender their passports. Mr McFeely's assets have been frozen, according to the Irish Examiner.

(LB)