Up to 75,000 construction jobs could be added by 2020 as part of “Rebuilding Ireland” initiative
Delegates at the Construction Industry Federation’s (CIF) annual conference at Croke Park have heard how the construction industry will play a vital role in “Rebuilding Ireland”, with the possibility of up to 75,000 jobs to be created by 2020.
Addressing attendees, CIF President Michael Stone discussed the Government’s Action Plan for Jobs, the Public Capital Programme, the Enterprise 2025 strategy, the IDA’s strategy and the National Broadband Plan and highlighted how crucial a role the construction industry will play in delivering on the key targets of these initiatives.
He also pointed to the creation of four jobs indirectly for every 10 jobs in construction, indicating that the industry supports over 190,000 jobs in Ireland in communities throughout the country.
If a supportive policy framework was put in place, the construction industry will be able to build 25,000 houses per annum and deliver infrastructure projects worth over €26 billion, according to Stone.
He said: “To achieve this vision, we need to partner with Government today to ensure that the domestic market is a springboard to export growth for our companies. We must work together to remove barriers to growth which make it impossible for the SME construction company to scale-up and realise their potential. Addressing market failure in finance, supply constraints in housing, planning issues, low technology uptake amongst companies and collaboration across the supply chain will equip the industry to become globally successful.”
Other speakers at the conference included Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government Simon Coveney, Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Paschal Donohoe and Enterprise Ireland CEO Julie Sinnamon.
