Time and date
CONSTRUCTION DIRECTORY
Ireland Construction News Archive for September 2010
30/09/2010
The grand opening of the €18 million, 2,900-capacity new Limerick Greyhound Stadium on the city's Dock Road is now looming. The management is reporting a healthy interest in the new venue for benefit nights and social occasions. The major construction project has now finished with the official ope
30/09/2010
'Know your building, know your responsibilities' is the message to non-domestic dutyholders, from the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) with today’s launch of its new asbestos 'duty to manage' campaign. The hard-hitting educational campaign targets dutyholders which broadl
30/09/2010
Two large sites on Galway's Tuam Road failed to win a change in their zoning to allow for more commercial use despite the presence of long-standing businesses. The site of Hanley Motors and the Trappers Inn were both vying to change their zonings to Commercial and Mixed Use (CI) which would allow a
30/09/2010
'How to secure sustained investment in affordable housing' is a key issue as NI awaits the outcome of the UK Spending Review and continue to deal with the impacts of the economic downturn. CIH and the Northern Ireland Assembly Research and Library Service are hosting a seminar to discuss that quest
30/09/2010
Work on a £125,000 resurfacing scheme at the Bloomfield Road Roundabout on the A2 Bangor Ring Road, Co Down will start next week. The work, carried out by the Department for Regional Development's (DRD) Roads Service, will begin on Monday 4 October 2010 and is scheduled for completion in seven week
30/09/2010
A man has been arrested after a bizarre incident that saw a cement truck ram the gates of Leinster House. The incident occurred in the early hours of yesterday morning, when the truck emblazoned with the words 'Toxic Bank Anglo' sped towards the front gates to the home of the Oireachtas. The driv
30/09/2010
The former US President Bill Clinton has been on a visit to Londonderry and Dublin this week to make a speech on how to build economic prosperity. The trip is just weeks ahead of a Washington summit on the Northern Ireland economy, which will be hosted by his wife Hillary - now the US Secretary of
29/09/2010
CITB-ConstructionSkills Northern Ireland and the Construction Employers Federation (CEF) have held the first workshop in a programme to help local construction firms steer a safe course through the current economic storm. The two organisations are working together to fund and deliver a Business Imp
29/09/2010
Bids worth up to £56m for roads and social housing in Northern Ireland have been rejected due to insufficient funds, it has been revealed. Speaking at the Northern Ireland Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy annual conference in Newcastle, Stormont Finance Minister Sammy Wilson wa
29/09/2010
Dublin City Council has announced that it will lead the four Dublin local authorities in a bid to achieve World Design Capital status for Dublin in 2014. Lord Mayor Gerry Breen launched the website
29/09/2010
Jobs are under threat at a maintenance company in Londonderry. Up to 45 employees at McGurk and Moore could lose their jobs after the firm missed out on a contract with North and West Housing Association. A senior manager with the company said they have written to the preferred bidder to try and k
29/09/2010
The Minister for Transport, Noel Dempsey has officially opened the 38km M7 Nenagh to Limerick Motorway that will result in safer journeys and time savings for the 20,000 vehicles travelling between Limerick and Nenagh every day. The €424 million project was funded by the Irish exchequer under the
29/09/2010
A range of different FSC certified products from both Coillte Panel Product's brands, Medite MDF and SmartPly OSB, have been used in two major building projects in Ireland – the Aviva Stadium at Landsdown Road in Dublin, and Microsoft's first EMEA data centre outside the US, in Grangecastle, Co. Dub
28/09/2010
One of Ireland's best known employment solutions companies has signalled a solid vote of confidence in NI with the announcement that it is to locate its international headquarters in Belfast. The Grafton Employment Group PLC will move to 'The Boat' an iconic building that is situated on the north b
28/09/2010
Dublin Chamber of Commerce has welcomed Metro North construction, as they are assured that it will be business as usual for all companies operating in the vicinity of the works by the Railway Procurement Agency (RPA). The RPA has announced that work on Metro North will begin in April 2011. The R
28/09/2010
Country areas of NI are to blaze a trail on the high-speed Internet highway. With news of a major infrastructure development, the Stormont Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster has today announced a further £250,000 of funds to support broadband technology trials and provision of access to high-speed c
28/09/2010
The construction sector is awaiting news of a bid to secure almost €20m in funding under the Government's 'Smarter Travel' initiative to redevelop travel facilities in and around Galway City. The plan includes the construction of a new coastal 'green lane' from Renmore to Silver Strand for pedestri
28/09/2010
A local firm, MW Developments Ltd has been refused outline permission by Louth County Council for a small district centre on the Old Golf Links Road, Blackrock. The proposed development was to be constructed in place of a neighbourhood shopping centre, office, medical centre and creche granted unde
28/09/2010
Planners are about to make a final decision on the construction of the M20 Limerick to Cork motorway. Already, An Bord Pleanala oral hearing attracted hundreds of concerned residents who attended a two-week hearing before inspector Danny O'Connor in Charleville Park Hotel last July. The hearing wa
27/09/2010
Planners are about to make a final decision on the construction of the M20 Limerick to Cork motorway. Already, An Bord Pleanala oral hearing attracted hundreds of concerned residents who attended a two-week hearing before inspector Danny O'Connor in Charleville Park Hotel last July. The hearing wa
27/09/2010
Social Development Minister, Alex Attwood MLA, has announced that he would like to build new family homes on the site of the former Andersonstown Social Security Office. The West Belfast site has been vacant since the Social Security Office relocated from Slieveban Drive to new premises on the Fall
27/09/2010
A total of 40% of Electricity in Northern Ireland will come from alternative energy sources by 2020. Energy Minister Arlene Foster outlined the targets set out in the Strategic Energy Framework for Northern Ireland 2010 document. Offshore wind farms, tidal turbines and waste incinerators will be
27/09/2010
There will not be no change in the planned building of a motorway for Wexford - but the much needed construction contract is likely to be delayed because of national cutbacks. The National Roads' Authority (NRA) has ruled out the possibility of a truncated M-way for users and plans to continue with
27/09/2010
The collapse of housing firm McDaid Developments will cost Bank of Ireland almost £36m. The Londonderry based company entered administration in June. At the time, it had 13 sites across County Donegal, Derry, Cavan and Longford, which consisted of undeveloped land, completed houses and partially
27/09/2010
Co Antrim mums-to-be are to enjoy a boost with news that the new Midwifery led unit at Lisburn City's Lagan Valley Hospital will open early next year. After the 2nd of February, there will be a four-bedded facility with each of the four single rooms having its own en suite facilities and there will
24/09/2010
The Dublin Government has announced an innovative new training programme which will see up to 30 apprentices formerly employed at the S R Technics aircraft maintenance facility at Dublin Airport being taken on by the Air Corps to complete their apprenticeships. The announcement was made by the Mini
24/09/2010
Northern Ireland's expertise is on show at a major technology exhibition in Germany this week. Four companies are exhibiting and a further group will be visiting the Husum WindEnergy Exhibition, from 21-25 September, with assistance from Invest NI. The event, held at Husum, near Hamburg, is the
24/09/2010
In the second of a projected five phase redevelopment of Altnagelvin Hospital in Northern Irelands’ second city of Derry, 1500m2 of RigiSystems Ziplok aluminium standing seam roofing have been used to provide a distinctive and ‘space age’ feel to its curved plant rooms. The building incorporates t
24/09/2010
Energy Minister Eamon Ryan announced today that Irish company Wavebob Ltd has secured a grant of $2.4 million (€1.83 million) from the US Department of Energy to prepare for a commercial-scale wave energy demonstration project planned for US waters in 2013. Minister Ryan also announced that Bord Gá
24/09/2010
Social Development Minister, Alex Attwood, has visited local traders in the Castle Street / King Street area of Belfast City Centre to hear their views on its future regeneration. The Folk Town Community Interest Community presented their plans to further build on the success of the DSD funded reSt
24/09/2010
A group of around 50 real estate developers from The Netherlands visited Belfast City Hall and paid tribute to the city's regeneration. Mr Wienke Bodewes, Chairman of NEPROM (Association of Dutch Property Developers), said they were here to see what they could learn about the city's regeneration st
24/09/2010
The Minister for Lifelong Learning, Séan Haughey, has welcomed the announcement by the European Commission that it had approved Ireland's application seeking EU co-financing support under the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) for former workers made redundant at the S R Technics aircraft
23/09/2010
An Taoiseach, Brian Cowen has visited to Grangegorman to launch a major new infrastructure development project for Dublin's north inner city and for DIT. The development will include a new campus accommodating all of the activities of DIT in one location. It will also provide mental health facilit
23/09/2010
A visionary £5.7m public realm scheme in Armagh City has been on view this week, with the future redevelopment of the historic Armagh Gaol now also set to be transformed. The Stormont Social Development Minister, Alex Attwood has visited Armagh for a walking tour of the city centre to see for himse
23/09/2010
Butler Mobile Systems (BMS) in Randalstown has developed an innovative mobile kitchen unit with support from Invest Northern Ireland. The firm is aiming to achieve sales of £296,000 in the Republic of Ireland and Great Britain markets. The Co. Antrim firm designs, manufactures, repairs and maintai
23/09/2010
GRAHAM Head Office has been awarded ‘Most Sustainable Building 2010’ at the Energy, Environmental & Waste Management Awards held on Wednesday 15 September 2010 at the Ramada, Belfast. Entered by BDP Architects, the new Head Office fought off tough competition including Carvill Group Eco Village on
23/09/2010
Belfast based CEM Systems, part of Tyco Security Products, has announced that the existing CEM AC2000 security management system at Manchester Airport has been extended to secure the new ‘A380’ Pier B. Pier B was updated to accommodate an A380 aircraft. Manchester Airport has become the first re
23/09/2010
Development work will begin on a major superstore project in Bangor at the beginning of October, creating and securing dozens of construction jobs. The property expert who secured the deal to bring the Sainsbury's supermarket giant to Balloo Retail Park said that it will be a significant boost for
22/09/2010
Construction work appears to be a long way off on a proposed new, multi-million Gardaí station, that is supposed to be being built in Wexford. It has emerged that the planned development is entirely dependent on the fate of the economy. Senior staff from the Office of Public Works (OPW) told Chief
22/09/2010
Despite planning permission being granted last April, objections continue against a €350m overhaul of RTE's Montrose studios. Objections from local Donnybrook residents that includes financier Dermot Desmond's opposition, have been attending an oral planning hearing this week. But, the national br
22/09/2010
There's to be a multi-million pound EU-funded cash injection for NI's labour market. Yesterday, the Stormont Employment and Learning Minister, Sir Reg Empey, encouraged organisations here to apply for the latest round of European Social Funding totalling over £65m. Welcoming the package for projec
22/09/2010
Plans for a €2.9m regeneration of Dundalk's Market Square have been given the go-ahead. Councillors agreed to an amended plan that would allow two lanes of traffic to remain on the southern side of the Square. One lane will turn onto Clanbrassil Street, the other onto Crowe Street. Frontage along
22/09/2010
Much-talked-about unionist unity was to the fore yesterday with news that both main party leaders had joined forces to criticise the Dáil Government. Sir Reg Empey, (Ulster Unionist) and Peter Robinson (Democratic Unionist Party) indicated that they had serious concerns over the issue of cross-bord
22/09/2010
CITB-ConstructionSkills Northern Ireland is offering a free Undergraduate Development Programme for construction and built environment students currently on their placement year. The programme lasts 10 days and covers key areas of Core Management Skills, Craft awareness, Team Building and Health an
21/09/2010
A huge construction planned for Galway Harbour has now been scaled down. Plans for the redevelopment of the city port have now 'shrunk' after a prospective buyer backed-out of a pre-contract agreement for the purchase of a €26m site earmarked to finance the project. It is understood that fuel supp
21/09/2010
Energy Minister Arlene Foster has published the main findings from a significant study examining the potential for renewable heat in Northern Ireland. The study has concluded that Northern Ireland has the potential to obtain 10% of its heat energy from renewable sources by 2020. It has provided a f
21/09/2010
Energy Minister Arlene Foster has published the main findings from a significant study examining the potential for renewable heat in Northern Ireland. The study has concluded that Northern Ireland has the potential to obtain 10% of its heat energy from renewable sources by 2020. It has provided a f
21/09/2010
The Consumer Council is withdrawing from the Water Stakeholders Partnership Agreement due to a breakdown in trust. Consumer Council Chairperson, Rick Hill and Chief Executive, Antoinette McKeown informed NI Water's (NIW's) Interim Chair Padraic White and Chief Executive Laurence MacKenzie and Depar
21/09/2010
Grontmij has appointed a new managing director for the UK and Ireland. John Chubb will join the company from 1st October 2010. Lawrence Hughes, current managing director of Grontmij in the UK and Ireland, will retain his role as chairman of the UK and Ireland board, as well as taking up the inter
21/09/2010
With just 9 days to go to the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) Energy Efficiency Scheme registration deadline, the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) has urged all organisations to ensure that they have registered. The CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme requires all public and private sector org
21/09/2010
An environmental group has challenged representatives of NI's top supermarket chains to put their position on the proposed Moy Park chicken waste incinerator to a public meeting in Glenavy this week. Following the recent statement by Stormont Environment Minister Edwin Poots that he was "minded to
20/09/2010
Dangerous Radon gas has been found in nearly 600 Irish homes this year - the largest number since the national detection programme began. Shock figures were released by the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland that underlined how Radon is the second biggest cause of lung cancer in Ireland a
20/09/2010
Balfour Beatty, the international infrastructure group, has announced that it has been appointed as preferred bidder by the National Roads Authority for the £250 million N17/N18 Gort to Tuam PPP roads scheme in the Republic of Ireland, in consortium with the Royal BAM Group. The N17/N18 contract is
20/09/2010
Regional Development Minister Conor Murphy has announced the appointment of Brian Reid and Alan Stephens to the board of Warrenpoint Harbour Authority. The appointment is for a four year period commencing on 1 October 2010. The Minister said: "Alan Stephens and Brian Reid bring a wealth of commerc
20/09/2010
Social Development Minister Alex Attwood has opened the new Citizens Advice (CAB) city centre office in Howard Street, Belfast. Funding of £100,000 from the Department's Modernisation Fund Capital Programme has enabled CAB to open a newly refurbished, modern, accessible office in a prominent city c
20/09/2010
The National Consumer Agency has published its latest home insurance cost comparison on www.itsyourmoney.ie. The cost comparison, which features a range of profiles in Roscommon, Donegal and Dublin, highlights the savings to be made by shopping around for home insurance quotes, with potential annua
20/09/2010
NI's leading political figure has got on his bike to back the economic benefits of sustainable travel and the regeneration of the cities. First Minister Peter Robinson took part in the 'Cycle to the City' Comber bike ride as part of the 15th Anniversary of the National Cycle Network event. Followi
17/09/2010
A property developer could be bringing a substantial fillip to Dundalk, if a bid for a new supermarket gets the green light. The project would see additional facilities and a hotel upgrade with the creation of much-needed construction jobs at the site of the town's Fairways Hotel. Sarbon Ltd has a
17/09/2010
Several years after the site was bought over, an innovative plan to re-open an historic Jesuit church in Limerick has stalled. The building project at the Crescent now looks set to remain on the 'back-burner' some four years after the building was purchased by the late Galway developer John O'Dolan
17/09/2010
An international consultancy, WYG, is celebrating achieving two awards from the prestigious 6th annual Sustainable Ireland Awards held in partnership with the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA). The awards, Biodiversity Project of the Year and Environmental Project of the Year were presente
17/09/2010
An Executive Minister has been 'going with the flow' this week with news that an innovative traffic control system was officially switched-on. The £10m system, which was procured under the M1/Westlink construction works, will operate on both carriageways of the road network between M1 junction 3 (B
17/09/2010
Local charity outfit Belfast Urban Sports (BUS) are throwing a free urban sports jam for all comers on Saturday 18 September. The BUS boys will be celebrating the start of construction of Northern Ireland`s first ever purpose built Urban Sports Park, called 'Bridges' – after five years of hard wor
17/09/2010
The Stormont Social Development Minister Alex Attwood has announced that the River Lagan will be extensively dredged - cleaning up both the iconic river and creating jobs at the same time. The £2.8m contract, awarded to local firm Graham Construction, will see dredging on the river for the first ti
16/09/2010
A construction contract worth over £10 million to extend a section of dual carriageway on a lifeline road for the north of Scotland, is set to go ahead with the appointment of an Irish contractor. Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson announced that John Paul Construction will build the Transport Sc
16/09/2010
Minister for Defence and Clare T.D., Mr. Tony Killeen, says he received confirmation from the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources that 16 towns and villages across the county are scheduled to receive broadband before the end of the year. Minister Killeen said that 26 broadban
16/09/2010
Road Expo and Civilex 2010, takes place from 13 - 14 October 2010 at RDS, Simmonscourt, Dublin and is Ireland's leading free exhibition for road maintenance, traffic management and construction. Civilex Civilex is Ireland's premier event where the construction and civil engineering industries come
16/09/2010
One of Derry's best known politicians, the Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness, was on home territory today for the launch the draft Regeneration Plan (Mark II) for the city. Accompanied by the Minister for Social Development Alex Attwood, the local MP attended an event in the Maiden City's Wa
16/09/2010
HLM Architects has appointed a new landscaping expert in its Belfast office. Jonathan Assorto-McIlwaine has joined the practice from RPS Planning and Environment, also in Belfast, where he was involved in a range of major landscaping projects throughout Ireland, ranging from city centre public rea
16/09/2010
Dutch construction company BAM has been awarded a multi-million Euro highways contract. They have been commissioned by the Irish National Roads Authority to design, build, finance and maintain 57 km of the Atlantic road corridor. The project will be funded over 25 years, according to the firm. Th
15/09/2010
Minister for Defence and Clare T.D., Tony Killeen has welcomed the announcement that the preferred tender has been selected for the M17/M18 Gort to Tuam PPP Motorway. Minister Killeen said the project forms a key part of the Atlantic Corridor and will greatly reduce journey times for traffic along
15/09/2010
One of NI's best known banks is likely to lose more than £2m it is owed by a property company which went into administration. The Ulster Bank was owed £3.4m by Hanna Quality Homes Limited when administrators were appointed last year. A report filed by the administrator now shows that the bank can
15/09/2010
Education Minister, Caitríona Ruane, has chaired a meeting to discuss Parkhall Integrated College. The Minister met a group of MLAs from the South Antrim area along with the Principal and Chair of the Board of Governors of Parkhall Integrated College to discuss future development plans for the scho
15/09/2010
There's something in the air in Co Tyrone with news that Gaelectric, the Irish renewable energy company, has received planning approval for a 11.5 Megawatt (MW) wind farm at Cregganconroe, Pomeroy. The wind farm development - that will consist of five wind turbines and will be capable of generating
15/09/2010
Capital Assets, a specialist property asset management company, has announced the appointment of Keith McGuigan as Finance Director to the business. The appointment comes as the company positions itself for further business growth over the coming 12 months, as property investors and lenders increa
15/09/2010
The opening of the completed M9 is yet another milestone for Waterford and the South East region. The Motorway now links directly from the Suir Bridge Waterford to Dublin. The Suir Bridge is pivotal in providing a regional gateway for the entire southeast. Declan Cahill, Operations Manager for th
14/09/2010
Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital today announced the opening of a state of the art new Coronary Care Unit. The new Unit occupies the top floor of the new building that includes the new Emergency Department, which opened in June. The total construction cost of the entire new building in Drogheda was
14/09/2010
Property development and investment company Parker Green are to lodge a planning application for a major factory outlet centre in Waterford. The development will create around 300 construction jobs and 200 retail positions. The scheme, located at a former pitch and putt course on the Cork Road, wi
14/09/2010
The A31 Magherafelt Bypass scheme has this week moved a step closer to getting underway. NI Transport Minister, Conor Murphy, announced on Monday his decision to proceed with the making of the statutory orders for the £36million scheme. "Having considered the Inspector's Report into the Public Inq
14/09/2010
House prices in Northern Ireland have been falling for three years, according to a study of chartered surveyors. The balance of Northern Ireland respondents to the RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) housing market survey, supported by Ulster Bank, has been reporting falling prices ever
14/09/2010
The Stormont Minister Conor Murphy has told the Assembly of his proposals to address what he called 'governance issues' in NI Water (NIW). However, the NI Finance Minister Sammy Wilson has already criticised Mr Murphy's proposals as "expensive and unrealistic". "Bringing Northern Ireland Water bac
14/09/2010
Four consortiums have been awarded Lottery grants to run and learn from pilot contracts to help NI communities work together to build a better future for local people. The Big Lottery Fund is awarding grants totalling nearly £449,000 to Belfast City Council, Derry City Council and the Rural Develop
13/09/2010
An energy efficient building firm has gone into administration. Sky Developments (NI), based in Holywood, County Down, was behind one of the first sustainable developments in the province. Financial consultants BDO were appointed as administrators. Notable 'green' schemes include the The Green Ho
13/09/2010
A Co Tyrone business has been fined £750 plus £22 court costs at Omagh Magistrates' Court. McGarrity Brothers Ltd, Inishitave Road, Sixmilecross, Co Tyrone, was fined for making a polluting discharge to a waterway. On 24 March 2009, a Water Quality Inspector, acting on behalf of the Northern Irela
13/09/2010
The contraction in the country's construction market has slowed to its lowest rate since June 2007, suggesting a tentative recovery in the sector. But, the construction activity fell again for the 39th month in a row in August, according to the latest Construction Purchasing Mangers index from Ulst
13/09/2010
Unions representing construction workers are to embark on a nationwide consultation of members over a proposed 7.5% cut in wages recommended by the Labour Court. Employers had sought a 20% reduction. A meeting of the heads of seven unions representing construction workers decided to consult members
13/09/2010
People planning to build a new home could save themselves thousands of euro each year by developing a passive house. That is according to the Passive House Association of Ireland (PHAI), a low energy design initiative comprising passive house designers and contractors. The Association, which was of
13/09/2010
Republican politicians have called for action by the Northern Ireland Planning Service - and the DUP Minister responsible - on apparent failures to enforce airport seat limits in east Belfast. South Belfast Sinn Féin MLA Alex Maskey and his party colleague, East Belfast representative Niall Ó Donng
10/09/2010
Northern Ireland's First Minister Peter Robinson has welcomed the opening of a new £2.4million sports facility at Stormont. The new Playball sports facilities at the Pavilion, the first of its kind in Belfast, has been developed with the support of Sport Northern Ireland. The new facilities inclu
10/09/2010
The National Asset Management Agency (NAMA) is in advanced talks to sell properties worth €500m. The Agency has set the target that 25% of outstanding loans will be paid off by 2013. NAMA Chief Executive Brendan McDonagh, speaking at the Richard Cantillon School of Economics in Tralee, said: "We w
10/09/2010
Long awaited improvement works for the Bishop O' Donnell / Seamus Quirke Road are to commence on September 27. On completion this project will transform the road into a four lane dual carriageway encompassing two new bus lanes in the west of Galway City involving an investment of €10 million. Fo
10/09/2010
The Stormont Social Development Minister Alex Attwood has welcomed a landmark 21,000th home purchased through the Co-Ownership housing scheme. The house is in Antrim, and belongs to young family Claire Scott and Richard Young, with daughter Katie. Welcoming them to their new home, Social Developme
10/09/2010
Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills Mary Coughlan has opened the newly refurbished St. Joseph's National School, East Wall, Dublin 3. The school building was refurbished at a cost of €1.1million and funded by the Department of Education and Skillls. The refurbishment work included a new
10/09/2010
Belfast's Merchant Hotel in Belfast has won planning approval for a landmark traditional music centre in the city's Cathedral Quarter. The Beannchor Group wants to convert a 19th century warehouse into a facility including a school of music, tuition rooms as well as a pub and dining area and wants
09/09/2010
The latest stretch of the M9 motorway has been officially opened. The 40 kilometre section from Carlow to Knocktopher cost €476m and was completed three months ahead of schedule. It will bypass Kilkenny city as well as towns like Stoneyford, Dungarvan and Thomastown and it will cut half an hour of
09/09/2010
Additional advice on the implementation of planning policy for new dwellings on farms was released this week. Policy CTY 10, which governs new dwellings on farms, was amended to allow consideration of an alternative site elsewhere on a farm away from farm buildings where a justifiable case could be
09/09/2010
Dublin based SmartGlass International has supplied a large area of solar control SmartGlass to the set of the newly launched ITV breakfast anchor program "Daybreak". SmartGlass International has supplied a large area of solar control SmartGlass to the set of the newly launched ITV breakfast anchor
09/09/2010
A local building sector firm is flying high after recently being awarded a contract to provide comprehensive facilities management solutions for George Best Belfast City Airport. With services having commenced on-site on 1 September, Graham Facilities Management now provides an extensive range of
09/09/2010
NI Water has completed a £2 million sewer treatments work in south Belfast. The firm said the Trunk Sewer Project at Belvoir Forest Park would bring will bring many benefits to the local community, and significantly improve the sewerage infrastructure in the area. Since the 1960s an underground tr
09/09/2010
The £1m upgrade at the Wastewater Treatment Works in Stewartstown, Co Tyrone has recently been completed for NI Water. Located on the Castle Farm Road, the upgraded Wastewater Treatment Works will improve the sewerage infrastructure and keep pace with rising demand in an area that has experienced
09/09/2010
Health Minister, Michael McGimpsey, has officially opened the new Regional Child and Adolescent Mental Health Inpatient unit situated at Forster Green, Belfast. Beechcroft will provide a total of 33 inpatient beds and a further five daycase beds for children and adolescents with mental health probl
08/09/2010
The new £93million Coca-Cola HBC Northern Ireland manufacturing plant was officially opened in Lisburn today. Coca-Cola HBC Northern Ireland is part of the Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company, the world’s largest producer of Coca-Cola branded beverages with a presence in 28 countries, employing 45,
08/09/2010
Construction union UCATT are calling for an urgent rethink of how council services are delivered following reports that Connaught, one of the leading local government outsourcing companies, are on the point of administration. Connaught which employs 10,000 workers has been experiencing financial pr
08/09/2010
Social Development Minister Alex Attwood visited Strabane to launch the Strabane Town Centre Regeneration Masterplan. The plan commissioned by DSD and Strabane District Council, addressed the retail, leisure, employment, transport and public space development opportunities for Strabane Town Centre.
08/09/2010
HSENI's latest Annual Report and Statement of Accounts published, covering the period April 2009 to March 2010, shows that the number of injuries at work has again fallen since last year. Overall reported injuries are down by over a third since HSENI was established in 1999 - this compares to empl
08/09/2010
Public information sessions for the Village Renewal Measure of the Rural Development Programme will be held in the coming weeks throughout the North East Area, Moyle council has announced. The funding is targeted at the rural areas within the Ballymena, Ballymoney, Coleraine, Larne and Moyle Distri
08/09/2010
Construction firm SIAC (NI) Ltd has been awarded the £6 million contract to re-develop the parade ground at the former Ebrington Barracks in Derry into a new public square. The regeneration of the parade ground is considered by the Derry regeneration organisation, Ilex, to be fundamental as it will
07/09/2010
After 20 years in the making, the €380m Convention Centre in Dublin (CCD) opens today. The State-owned centre on Spencer Dock will employ 250 people on a full-time basis. The CCD suffered numerous delays including court challenges and abandoned public processes to select a developer. However, t
07/09/2010
Bord Gáis Energy has launched its 'Think Beyond' app for the iPhone which is the first of its kind in Ireland from an energy utility. The 'Think Beyond' app will give customers greater control over their energy accounts and the opportunity for gas customers to submit accurate meter readings. The 'T
07/09/2010
The Minister for Trade and Commerce, Billy Kelleher TD, is leading 30 top Irish firms on a week-long trade mission to Russia. The firms are from a range of sectors including engineering, construction, food and drink, education and business services. Half of them are in the information communicatio
07/09/2010
Ards Borough Council is stepping up the pressure to ensure that a vital public inquiry into three major retail planning applications for Newtownards is prioritised. News that a planning inquiry for Belfast City Airport has been deferred, but that a new North/South Connector project will require one
07/09/2010
The construction industry is heading for a double dip recession, according to the latest Construction Products Association’s industry forecasts. They predict that construction will be the first major industry sector to fall back into recession following a temporary recovery in the first six months
07/09/2010
Minister for Social Development, Alex Attwood unveiled a blueprint for the future development of Lisburn. It aims to transform the physical, social and economic fabric of the city. The final proposals for future regeneration objectives laid out in the documents launched include:100 per cent rejuven
06/09/2010
Bed and Breakfast facilities (B&Bs) across Northern Ireland will be shining brightly thanks to a new grant scheme launched by Northern Ireland Electricity (NIE). NIE is offering a grant for B&Bs, guesthouses and the self–catering sector across Northern Ireland who would like to install a solar wate
06/09/2010
The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation, Batt O’Keeffe TD, has announced 31 new jobs under an expansion plan by a firm that designs aluminium window and door systems. Minister O'Keeffe announced the jobs at the opening of a new €8 million aluminium extrusion plant in Architectural and Met
06/09/2010
Ireland's first purpose-built private swim school is enjoying the energy saving benefits of Polypool's heat-retaining pool panel system. Polypool has designed a bespoke hopper-style pool for the new Water School in West Cork as part of a complete commercial package. Specified for high bather usage
06/09/2010
Rushmere Shopping has announced the arrival of the retail arm of mobile phone company O2 and NI fashion jeweller Karine & Co. to the Craigavon centre. Karine & Co. opened its doors recently to Rushmere customers and will be followed by O2 in the next few weeks. Over 20 new jobs will be created a
06/09/2010
Belfast based Production Services Ireland (PSI) supplied lighting equipment, rigging services and crew for the 2010 Belsonic Festival - staged in Custom House Square, central Belfast, Northern Ireland. PSI has been involved with the event every year, seeing it grow steadily since its inauguration i
06/09/2010
Environment Minister Edwin Poots has congratulated McKinstry Skip Hire Ltd in signing up to the "Halving Waste to Landfill" initiative. The Minister visited the waste management company which is based in Nutts Corner, where he had an opportunity to tour the recycling facility and witness them signi
03/09/2010
The Northern Ireland housing market is demonstrating erratic and uneven behaviour, according to the latest survey of house prices. The latest University of Ulster Quarterly House Price Index produced in partnership with Bank of Ireland and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, covered the second
03/09/2010
Harland and Wolff has been awarded a multi-million contract to build two offshore substations for Siemens. The contract was awarded by the electronics and electrical engineering firm for the Gwynt y Mor offshore wind farm off the coast of North Wales. The substations are due to be completed by Jun
03/09/2010
Minister for Social Development, Alex Attwood, handed over the keys to a building which is to become a new community facility in Newtownards. The Department provided £300,000 under its Modernisation Fund Capital Programme to enable Ards Development Bureau & Community Network to purchase the listed
03/09/2010
Plans for a chicken litter incinerator at Glenavy in County Antrim have been approved. The biomass-fuelled power plant will create 300-400 construction jobs and 30 permanent jobs. Environment minister Edwin Poots announced on Tuesday that he had approved plans. The Rose Energy scheme is a joint
03/09/2010
A leading provider of tile and marble products, Armatile, has been celebrating an investment. Invest Northern Ireland is supporting the local tile manufacturer to help increase sales by £500,000 by 2012. Invest NI has offered over £39,600 towards the company's development plans which aim to enhan
03/09/2010
There's a major water project in Co Cork out to tender at present with the Coolnamagh Group Water Scheme to provide a new water supply network to serve the area of Mallow when completed. The overall objective of the Coolnamagh Group Water Scheme is to provide a new water supply network to serve the
03/09/2010
A frustrated developer has confirmed he will appeal Kildare County Council's recent decision to refuse permission for a cinema complex in Celbridge. Damien Donegan is angry about the decision, which he says nobody in the area supports and has criticised the Council's decision. However, the inclu
02/09/2010
Roan Building Systems’ expansion plans take a major step forward with the appointment of Ian Lewis as Business Development Manager South. With over 15 years’ industry experience, Lewis brings a wealth of modular and portable building systems knowledge to the Roan team. In his role of Business
02/09/2010
A €6m warehouse extension to Becton Dickinson's premises at Pottery Road, are forging ahead with news that the mechanical and electrical sub-contractors have now been appointed for the works. The contract involves the construction of a 3,082 square metre extension to the north-eastern side of the e
02/09/2010
MCM Property Services has submitted a planning application to transform a property at 165 Ormeau Road in south Belfast into a 30 bed back-packers' hostel. The low budget travellers will then have another option for staying in Belfast thanks to the new plans for the site, which had been used as a te
02/09/2010
There's growing opposition to the building of new homes in Londonderry with more than 200 people objecting to the plans. Belfast-based Langham Limited also wants to build shops and new roads on the large site off the Culmore Road. The size of the development had already been reduced, but some peop
02/09/2010
A two-storey extension to a school in Co Roscommon in pressing ahead with news that the mechanical and electrical sub-contractors have now been appointed for the works involved in the €3.5m school project. The extension is being constructed at Scoil Mhuire, Convent of Mercy, Lisroyne, Strokestown a
02/09/2010
A substantial £450,000 Belfast college refurbishment contract is now underway. The job involves stripping out an existing teaching and laboratory space and the provision of new teaching and laboratory accommodation and science laboratories at the Central Building, Stranmillis University College, Be
02/09/2010
A Dublin school is planning a development of its sporting facilities. The new stand-alone single-storey PE Sports Hall will include two-storey ancillary areas at St Aidans CBS in Whitehall, Dublin. Detail plans have just been submitted to Dublin City Council for the construction of the PE Sports H
01/09/2010
Waterways Ireland is undertaking substantial works on Dublin's Royal Canal. The main elements are surveys for the purpose of excavation, maintain and remove water management system through site of works and remove all excess bed material including hazardous, non hazardous and inert waste and to dis
01/09/2010
Work has now begun on Bangor's new £40m Olympic pool and - as previously reported - this comes after months of 'stop-start' progress. Builders have gone on site at Valentine Playing Field to start work on what will be Northern Ireland's first 50 metre swimming pool. Farrans Construction Limited is
01/09/2010
The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service has submitted plans for a two-storey, four-appliance Fire Station in Co Antrim. However, it has been noted that these plans are at the very earliest stage of the planning process and approval is being sought for the site in the first instance. The compl
01/09/2010
Developers have submitted plans to build a retail centre in Waterford city which could give the city a jobs boost. If the development is granted planning permission, construction of the outlet will create 300 jobs in the construction sector, while there will be more than 200 retail vacancies when t
01/09/2010
Two Northern Ireland firms have scooped an £85 million contract to develop five mental health care facilities in Liverpool, Sefton and Kirkby. The good news comes days after it was announced that the level of construction activity across NI is still on the way down. However, both Farrans and Heron
01/09/2010
There's a bid this month to renovate and extend a Co Mayo house as a bed and breakfast facility along with an associated shop. Detailed plans were submitted to Mayo County Council by the promoters, Sarah and Nick Faujours for the renovation and extension to the existing building at Mulranny, Westpo
