Construction BUSINESS

The Construction Industry Federation (CIF) estimates that the level of new residential completions for 2017 will be in the region of 18,000 units with this figure expected to increase to approximately 20,000 units in 2018. This compares to 12,666 units in 2015, representing an overall increase of 42% from 2015-2017.

CIF Director General Tom Parlon said: “The ESRI has recently upgraded the desired housing output target from 25,000 per year to 35,000. Commencements last year were around 13,200. This shows the challenge we as a society are facing in terms of housing. This behoves the Government to do everything in its power to help the industry increase supply in a sustainable fashion. The Help to Buy scheme is part of the solution and is having a positive impact on the ability of first time buyers to purchase a new home. There’s a noticeable increase in the percentage of starter homes being constructed and subsequently purchased compared to one year ago. House price increases are not being driven by activity in this segment, all agree that a lack of supply in the second-hand home market is driving inflation. The first-time buyer grant is helping increase supply for this segment which in time will take them out of the second-hand market. Overall, as ever, increasing supply from its unsustainably low base toward the ESRI’s target is the solution.

“In addition, data from the Irish Banking and Payments Federation Ireland shows that in Q1 2017, 6,939 mortgages were drawn down, an increase of 14% on Q1 2016. The Construction Industry is responding with new housing supply, which will ultimately assist in easing the pent-up demand. However, it must also have certainty around investment decisions, a collaborative construction environment and the time to bring forward new supply to market.

“Currently housebuilding, particularly outside Dublin, is often not viable as many housebuilders cannot gain access to finance at the right terms from banks or other sources. In order to ensure balanced regional development across Ireland and increase the industry’s capacity to deliver housing, it must be viable for construction companies to build.”