merrion street

The Government today welcomed the publication of the Forfás report on Ireland’s construction sector and announced a plan to improve the levels of activity and employment in the sector. There is evidence to suggest that there has been an overcorrection in relation to the size and contribution to the economy and to job creation from the sector.

Announcing the range of Government measures, Taoiseach Enda Kenny said:

We are not going back to the days of an artificial and unsustainable property bubble. But there is clear room for greater levels of activity and scope to create jobs for many who have the skills, the experience and the desire to play their part in Ireland's recovery. In rebuilding a sustainable construction sector we also have to confront its deficiencies which tolerated poor standards through a weak regulatory and enforcement regime. There is no silver bullet but there are lots of individual measures we can implement which, taken together, can make a real difference.

The Forfás report was commissioned by Jobs Minister Richard Bruton as part of the Action Plan for Jobs. Speaking following the publication of the report today, Minister Bruton said:

Today’s Forfás report shows, the crash that has occurred in the construction sector has brought it well below its natural, sustainable size and we should be aiming to increase the level of activity in the sector. This is important for creating the jobs we need, but also for delivering the sustainable numbers of family homes and commercial buildings that a healthy economy needs. The measures announced today will help ensure that key actions are delivered so that we can deliver a capable and innovative construction sector and a high quality built environment to support investment, growth, and ultimately the jobs we need.

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