A Europe wide conference, focused on the construction sector, has heard that Ireland will be worst hit by the continued downturn next year, with no signs of recovery in the industry expected until 2011.

Delegates were told that output in Ireland and Spain could fall to record level, with around 16% being knocked off production.

-- Advertisement --

New house building in the Republic could even drop by 42%, the Euroconstruct experts suggested.

The whole of Wester Europe should not expect the construction sector to pick-up until at least 2011.

The total volume of building output in the 19 countries covered by Euroconstruct is expected to decline 4.3% next year, after a 2.5% dip this year.

However, Output is forecast to stabilise in 2010.

In Ireland, total construction output is expected to fall by almost 13% from 2008-2011.

(PR)