State Needs To Support Employment, Says CIF

The body representing Irish builders has called on the government to take more decisive action to prevent further jobs losses in the sector.

Construction Industry Federation boss Tom Parlon made his comments following new data showing huge job losses across all construction sectors.

Mr Parlon said: "The Architectural Practices Employment Survey commissioned by the RIAI shows that 25% of architects were made redundant in 2008 and that this figure will increase to 41% by March of this year."

A trend, Mr Parlon said is being replicated across the planning, engineering and surveying professions, and amongst solicitors involved in conveyance and in other property and construction areas.

"The Monthly Index of Construction Employment meanwhile shows that the pace of job losses in construction is accelerating, a trend that was clearly forecast by the CIF's Contracting Survey published in November last," he said.


"If the forecasted job losses in the industry occur over the coming months it will have a devastating impact on the public finances," claimed Mr Parlon.

The CIF called on the government to prioritise public infrastructure by reinstating all projects cut from the capital spending budget.

Namely works on the N18 Gort to Oranmore Road; Tuam and Claregalway Bypasses; M17 Rathmorrissey to Tuam Road; Improvement works on the N59 Clifden to Galway Road; N5 Longford Bypass; N25 Carrigtwohill to Middleton Road; and the Upgrade of Newlands Cross.

The CIF also insisted more funding should be injected into school building projects, social housing schemes and prison expansions.

"One of the features of the Celtic Tiger is the development of a highly skilled and resourced contracting industry that is capable of implementing complex infrastructure projects efficiently and within budgetary constraints," said Mr Parlon.

"In the absence of Government investment this resource will be lost to the economy, which is a major threat to our medium- and long-term competitiveness given that Ireland significantly lags its European and World counterparts when it comes to infrastructure.

"In the short-term this investment would shore up employment in the industry and help the economy through the current downturn," he added.

(PR/JM)