The screeching brakes applied to the Northern Ireland building industry are the most severe in 12 years.

Construction work during the last quarter of 2008 has fallen at its most dramatic pace since 1996.

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors has attributed the situation to "a near halt of work" in the private housing sector.

The body had blamed the slowing of public sector jobs on planning permission delays.

The surveyors have urged the Northern Ireland Executive to take action; by warning further jobs losses can be expected in the trade. Skilled workers may also be forced to leave the Province to peruse work, which could have a negative impact on the completion of future public sector contracts.

-- Advertisement --

The surveyors' Construction Market Survey, has shown that Northern Ireland was the worst performing region in the UK during the second quarter of this year.

Private commercial jobs have also experienced a slump, at a rate not seen since 1995. Private industrial workloads were also down by their sharpest rate since the middle of 2002.

The survey said "even public non-housing" work fell at their fastest pace since the end of 2005.

The RICS's John Davidson said: "I would urge the executive to ensure that public sector construction work is brought forward as quickly as possible, as delays are exacerbating difficulties in the market linked to the housing sector."

(PR/JM)