The Construction Industry Federation (CIF) has welcomed the publication of the Forfás Construction Report, describing it as a "prescription for healing an ailing industry".

Speaking following the publication of Ireland's Construction Sector: Outlook and Strategic Plan to 2015, the CIF said that the Government must act on the recommendations made if they want to see the sector returning to growth and building towards a sustainable output.

"We have been eagerly awaiting the publication of this report and we would like to congratulate Forfás for compiling a very thorough analysis of the construction industry, the problems it is experiencing and what can be done to get this sector operating at the level it should be," said CIF Director General Tom Parlon. "There are a range of practical solutions put forward in the report, which if implemented would immediately boost the sector and start creating jobs.

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"This report is a prescription for healing an ailing industry but now measures need to be taken to help us reach healthier levels of activity. The next step is for the Government to start implementing these recommendations. We have waited long enough for action and as the Forfás report states, continued low levels of activity risk further erosion of the future growth of the Irish economy.

"There is a strong emphasis in this report on the importance of capital spending to the industry. We are very much in favour of the Government implementing the various recommendations made in this plan as it would ensure one of the main sources of investment in construction activity would be better managed and provide a more steady flow of finance. These measures would also create more opportunities for construction, creating thousands of jobs.

"Other steps that will need to be taken as detailed in this report include improving the public procurement processes. The Government is due to undertake a review this year and it is important that review fully considers the points made by Forfás.

"We also noted the strong recommendations about reducing unnecessary regulatory burdens and costs which are being placed on the State and the industry. Coupled with improvements to development levies and local authority charges, such measures could result in immediate impacts on construction activity on a regional basis."

(CD/MH)