Time and date
CONSTRUCTION DIRECTORY
Ireland Construction News Archive for October 2007
31/10/2007
Meadows & Byrne will lead the first wave of retail tenants at the chq building in Dublin Docklands. The home furnishings and accessories store will open for business next Tuesday, November 6, at the chq building in the IFSC. Encompassing 1,300 square metres, the shop will offer a wide range of ho
31/10/2007
Ireland's Railway Procurement Agency will be carrying out essential bridge works across the M50 Motorway between Junction 14 (Leopardstown) to Junction 17 (Shankill) From 8pm Saturday 10 until 11am Sunday 11 November. The section of the M50 from Juntion 14 (Leopardstown) to Junction 17 (Shankill) w
31/10/2007
The Health and Safety Executive Northern Ireland (HSENI) and the Institute of Directors Northern Ireland Division (IoD) joined forces to launch new guidance 'Leading health and safety at work' which was written by Directors for Directors. Directors have taken the initiative in drawing up their own
31/10/2007
The Enterprise Resource Centre in Downpatrick Street, Rathfriland, is now open for business. Managed by Banbridge District Enterprises Limited on behalf of Banbridge District Council, the new enterprise resource centre has all the essential equipment, technologies and services of the modern office
31/10/2007
Northern Ireland could benefit from the construction of six brand new walkway projects, when the winner of The People's £50 Million Lottery Giveaway is announced in December. In June 2005 the Big Lottery Fund (BIG) and broadcaster ITV announced a competition to find the winner of a £50 million Nati
31/10/2007
A new range of estimating and post-contract software has been created by Esti-mate, which possesses features usually only found in systems costing thousands of Euro more. Esti-mate is a range of products for the construction industry with over 550 customers already in Ireland using it to benefit. T
31/10/2007
Eight Belfast businesses are going to Cyprus to explore potential trade links. The five-day mission will run from Monday November 5 and will be the fifth trade mission organised by Belfast City Council to the Mediterranean island, building on previous successes. Councillor Michael Browne, Chairman
31/10/2007
One of the country's largest hotel groups has warned of a potential downturn in the domestic tourism sector unless Ireland's label of an expensive overseas destination is redressed. Dunne Group (DG) Hotels, which comprises seven established owner managed hotels, claims that the huge increase in the
30/10/2007
Dublin based commercial and residential real estate Lisney has completed two major deals worth over £130 million. The firm has acquired the 260,000 sq ft Crescent Link Retail Park, Derry, on behalf of a private client for more than £92m. They have also sold the 6000,000 sq ft Antrim Buisness Park o
30/10/2007
Irish architects Douglas Wallace has announced that it will be creating 100 new jobs as part of an Irish, UK and European expansion plan. The company, which recently bought Belfast-based Ferguson Wheeler for €2.7 million and London-based Corporate Edge Interiors and Architecture for €1m, plans to e
30/10/2007
A further public exhibition of proposals on the A32 Cherrymount Link Road, Enniskillen will be held on November 5 at Erne Integrated College on the outskirts of the town. At the exhibition, the public will be given an opportunity to view and provide further comment and feedback on the detail of the
30/10/2007
Clontarf Golf Club has been offered an extra €15m by developers to move to a new site. Capel Developments are now offering €95m under the deal. Members of the exclusive club could recieve over €100,000 each as part of the buy-out. If the club accepts it would move to the Portmarnock links course
30/10/2007
Belfast City Hall has temporarily closed for up to two years to enable major refurbishment to be undertaken. Renovations will include replacing heating, mechanical and electrical systems, re-roofing the building and installing computer network systems, with the building due to re-open in late 2009.
30/10/2007
A father and son from County Armagh were fined a total of £18,500 for illegal waste offences at Dungannon Magistrates Court yesterday. Thomas Joseph Curran , 61, of Blackwatertown Road, Armagh was fined £15,000 for breaches of waste management legislation. His son, James Curran, 38, of Ballytroddan
30/10/2007
Economy Minister Nigel Dodds has set out his aims to promote the development of a globally competitive Northern Ireland. Economic growth has been identified as the top priority over the next three years in the Executive’s Draft Programme for Government. Commenting on the economic priority, Economy
30/10/2007
Dublin based wealth management company Custom House Capital has bought three properties in Munich, Germany. The €27m purchases include a retail centre and office building in the Grunewald area of the city and a office building located at Nymphenurger Strasse in the city centre. The portfolio has a
29/10/2007
The Source Arts Centre and Library in Thurles, County Tipperary, has won an Architectural Association of Ireland Award and the award for Best Public and Cultural Building at the Irish Architecture Awards. Both awards aim to encourage the highest standards of design and recognise the projects that h
29/10/2007
Newry and Mourne District Council have signed up to the Dundalk 2020 Charter. This project is managed by Sustainable Energy Ireland and aims to highlight how a community can move to a more sustainable pattern of energy supply and use. This project is to be an exemplar, first within the town of Dunda
29/10/2007
As part of their ongoing strategy to tackle urban sprawl, Dublin City Council has published a report, ‘Successful Apartment Living Research Part 2’, which provides information for apartment owners in the city. Based on extensive research, the report provides quantitative information about the issu
29/10/2007
The Institute of Directors has joined with the Health and Safety Commission to advise directors and boards in how to implement the present health and safety, but a leading construction union has spoken out, calling the present laws "a complete failure." The Union of Construction, Allied Trades and
29/10/2007
Mr. John Gormley, TD, Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government on Thursday announced details of a three-month consultation process on proposed exemptions for micro-renewable technologies for industrial, commercial and public buildings and agricultural structures. Minister Gormle
29/10/2007
A three year moratorium on lignite prospecting licences has been extended by Economy Minister Nigel Dodds to the whole of Northern Ireland. The moratorium in October 2004 suspended any further prospecting licences for lignite only in the Ballymoney area. Speaking on Thursday, the Minister said: "
29/10/2007
Two enterprising postgraduates, who have just completed their Masters in Business with Information Innovation at Ulster's Coleraine campus, have launched their own property management and maintenance company, specialising in 'student lets' in the Coleraine 'Triangle' area. A combination of factors
29/10/2007
The Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Tony Killeen has announced that over €4.5 million has been allocated for a housing project at Circular Road in Kilkee. According to the Clare TD: "The funding is in respect of the provision of 30 units of acc
26/10/2007
Fingal County Council has revealed plans to build a €10million sports academy in north Dublin. The facility is to be situated in Turvey, between Swords and Donabate. It will encompass indoor and outdoor all-weather facilities and will serve as a centre of learning for the 60 football clubs in th
26/10/2007
The Northern Ireland Executive has pledged up to 10,000 new social housing completions over the next five years. The target was included in its Investment Strategy which was published this week. Along with plans to spend £18bn on the country's infrastructure over the course of the next decade, fu
26/10/2007
Rural Development Minister Michelle Gildernew MP, MLA has officially opened the Creative Industries Workspace Facilities at Manderwood Park in Lisnaskea, Co Fermanagh. The "SOURCE Developing Rural Creativity" project is supported through the EU Community Initiative INTERREG IIIA Programme and is a
26/10/2007
Experts from government, property, finance and academia will gather at a seminar hosted by the UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School to discuss the critical issues facing the Irish property market. 'Property: The shape of things to come' will take place on November 19 with a keynote speech f
26/10/2007
Convenience food and malt manufacturer Greencore plan to build a €50 million retail development at Athy in County Kildare. Plans submitted for the group’s first retail project are for a mixed retail and office park on the 40-acre site adjacent to the group's Irish Maltings. Phase one of the deve
26/10/2007
The €120 million Pier D building at Dublin Airport is to open on Sunday. Six of the planned boarding gates will become available for passenger traffic. Siobhan Moore, Dublin Airport spokeswomen, said the pier will open phase by phase: "The northern side of the pier is going to be opened first and
26/10/2007
The levels of immigration to the Irish Republic is set to drop dramatically in the coming year as the creation of new jobs falters. The state training agency, FÁS is forecasting that there will be 50,000 fewer new jobs added to the Irish economy next year compared with the previous 12 months. Spec
26/10/2007
As part of Coleraine Borough Council’s energy saving strategy and its commitment to the use of renewable energy techniques where possible, the Depot at Loughanhill has been recently fitted with a 20kWp (Kilowatt Power) Windsave Wind Turbine. The turbine takes its place alongside a 5kWp Solar Panel
26/10/2007
Makita has launched a completely new range of high power SDS+ rotary hammer drills which "set new standards" in impact performance for 2kg and 3kg machines. With high rpm levels, increased joules of impact energy and increased blows per minute, Makita claim these rotary hammer drills will dramatica
25/10/2007
PPS 14, the law restricting building in rural areas in Northern Ireland, has been declared unlawful. Minister Arlene Foster will make an announcement later today after Mr Justice Gillen made the decision in the High Court on Thursday. However, the law will not be dropped immediately and will remai
25/10/2007
Alan Shannon, Permanent Secretary at the Department for Social Development, has given the opening address to delegates at the Annual Conference of the Northern Ireland Federation of Housing Associations (NIFHA). Mr Shannon acknowledged the value of such conferences bringing together key players in
25/10/2007
Mr John Gormley TD, Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, has announced his approval for Meath County Council to place a €24m contract with E.P.S. Ltd to construct new wastewater treatment plants in Athboy/Rathcairn, Donore, Duleek, Kilmainhamwood, Moynalty, Rathmolyon and Sum
25/10/2007
SIAC Construction Limited, one of Ireland’s leading civil Engineering and building companies, has announced a profit after tax of €11.3m – that’ a €5.1m increase on last year's figures. Turnover increased by 15% to €276 million in 2006. Commenting on the results Chairman, Finn Lyden, said: “Signif
25/10/2007
Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie yesterday joined the Deputy Lord Mayor, Councillor Bernie Kelly in celebrating the reopening of a historic street in central Belfast. The £1.5 million project was initiated by the former Laganside Corporation and work commenced in December last year. The
25/10/2007
The Dublin Transportation Office has announced that it is to develop a new Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area (GDA), which will set out the infrastructure and other requirements for the region from the year 2010 to 2030. The new Strategy will be published in 2010, and will be the succes
25/10/2007
County Tyrone food processors Moy Park Ltd have been fined £6,000 after pleading guilty for two water pollution offences at Craigavon Magistrates' Court yesterday. These offences first came to light on June 5 2006, when an officer from the Environment and Heritage Service traced pollution of a stre
25/10/2007
Tony Killeen has announced that over €700k will be allocated to Clare County Council to assist the local authority in maintaining and operating its water and wastewater treatment facilities. "I am pleased that my colleague Mr John Gormley TD, Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Governm
24/10/2007
Energy Minister Eamon Ryan today congratulated the families who participated in the Power of One Street campaign over the past six months and highlighted the steps we all must take to ensure that Ireland reaches its energy efficiency goals as outlined in the draft national energy efficiency action p
24/10/2007
The Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs has approved a further €611,000 for a housing project in Ennis, less than a week after it allocated €1.1 million for two other housing projects in Cratloe in Ennis. The three projects will provide a total of 14 units of accommodation for per
24/10/2007
The average selling price of National House-Building Council (NHBC) registered new houses has increased by 45.6 per cent compared to the same quarter last year. NHBC registered new houses sold during April to June cost on average £214,000 – that's an increase of £67,000 since 2006 according to the
24/10/2007
The £13 million Maternity Unit at the Ulster Hospital, Dundonald, has been officially opened by Health Minister Michael McGimpsey. The three-floor unit, which was designed with the help of mothers, includes two spacious new wards with a total of 32 beds, as well as single rooms with en-suite facili
24/10/2007
Social Development Minister, Margaret Ritchie has attended a conference examining innovations in modern off-site manufacturing techniques in the construction industry. Addressing delegates at the Stormont Hotel in Belfast, the Minister said: "Housing and the provision of social housing in particula
24/10/2007
Austin Stacks GAA grounds in Tralee may be redeveloped as a shopping centre. At an extraordinary general meeting of the Kerry County Board GAA clubs voted to endorse a proposal to move the grounds to a purpose-built site on the racetrack at Ballybeggan. A 15,000 seater stadium and 30 acre training
24/10/2007
The DOE Planning Service has announced a timetable for the release of annual and quarterly statistical publications using its website (www.planningni.gov.uk). This is the first phase of its commitment to implementing 'best practice' for the statistical information it provides to the public. The an
24/10/2007
The Board of Bord Gáis has today announced the appointment of John Mullins as Chief Executive Officer. Mr Mullins, who joins Bord Gáis from Bioverda, will take up his position in early December. Commenting on the appointment, Ed O’Connell, Chairman of Bord Gáis, said: "The Board of Bord Gáis is del
23/10/2007
Ireland has won an EU award for best practice in communicating environmental issues. 'Notice Nature', the Department of the Environment's biodiversity awareness campaign, was voted the winner by environmental communications specialists from the 27 EU member states. The winner was announced at a cere
23/10/2007
Sligo-based Cell Energy Ireland received the best new product award at the Irish Sustainable Building Show at the RDS in Dublin. The award was presented at Ireland's first ever Carbon Neutral Exhibition where Cell Energy Ireland competed against a vast range of sustainable products from all over th
23/10/2007
The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) is to deliver a seminar on the progress and implications of the ongoing Office of Fair Trading (OFT) investigation into corruption within the UK construction industry. The OFT has been examining allegations of bid rigging by construction companies througho
23/10/2007
Over 50 members of the local commercial property industry joined building consultants Malcolm Hollis at Café Vaudeville for a champagne reception to celebrate its first anniversary in Belfast. Attendees included contacts from Belfast City Council and local companies including Savills Hamilton Osbou
23/10/2007
Regional Development Minister Conor Murphy has reiterated his commitment to the regeneration of the Greater Shankill area in West Belfast. The Minister was speaking after a meeting with Padraic White, Chair of the West Belfast and Greater Shankill Enterprise Council. The meeting followed a previous
23/10/2007
Regional Development Minister, Conor Murphy, has welcomed Roads Service's progress on investment totalling £6.5 million in the Ards Borough this year. Speaking ahead of tonight’s meeting between Roads Service and Ards Borough Council, the Minister said: "Roads Service has completed the statutory pr
23/10/2007
Sports Minister Edwin Poots MLA has opened the new £863,848 synthetic pitch and sports pavilion at Erne Integrated College, funded by the Big Lottery Fund. Speaking at the official opening on Friday Mr Poots said: "Having the best possible sporting facilities encourages participation in sport, impr
23/10/2007
A new online tool that will help construction companies plan carbon-wise projects and reduce their carbon footprint has been launched by the Environment Agency. The spreadsheet-based tool, which from November 2007 will be mandatory during the planning stage on all major Environment Agency construct
22/10/2007
The Government's handling of the Shannon-Heathrow issue will take centre stage at a two-day conference looking at regional development in Ireland. The 'Balancing Regional Development' event takes place in Bunratty, Co Clare and has been organised by a network of Community-based forums from outside
22/10/2007
Dublin based contracting company Sisk have received the overall construction award for consistent achievement by Billy Kelleher T.D. Minister for Labour in safety, at the NISO Annual Safety Conference 2007, Kerry. The award recognises the company's safety awareness culture and dedication to minimis
22/10/2007
Irish property investment group, CMC Capital, has bought a German commercial park for €12m. Bannewitz commercial park, Dresden, will have an initial rental yield of 7.2%, according to Cork-based CMC, which said it has structured the deal in a manner specifically suited to Irish pension investors.
22/10/2007
Jurys Inn has announced it is seeking to open up to 120 hotels in central and Eastern Europe, in the next 10 to 12 years. Quinlan Private, the firm’s parent, is preparing to launch its first central European hotel in Budapest. It is also conducting a €400 million fund raising drive to finance the e
22/10/2007
The Minister of State Tony Killeen has announced that over €1 million has been approved for housing projects in Cratloe and Ennis. According to the Minister: "I have been informed by my colleague, Batt O'Keefe TD, Minister for Housing, Urban Renewal and Developing Areas, that the funding will allow
22/10/2007
Ozone Friendly Fuels of Carrickcroppan Road, Camlough, Co Armagh has been fined £1,500 plus costs following pollution from an oil recycling plant belonging to the company. The case was heard at Armagh Magistrates' Court on October 19. The prosecution followed an investigation from February last y
22/10/2007
Minister Eamon Ryan has addressed the launch of a new political mass-movement in Trinity College Dublin. The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) is one of the main supporters behind the Student Action on Climate Change campaign, which is also supported by the Stop Climate Change Coalition. USI Envi
22/10/2007
Landscaping companies Peter Donegan MI Hort and the Donegan Landscaping team have been presented with two national awards by the Association of Landscape Contractors of Ireland (ALCI) on Friday October 19 at Citywest Hotel. The award of Merit in the best private garden category (over €13,000) and t
19/10/2007
Belfast's Titanic Signature Project - showcasing the city's maritime and industrial heritage – and likely to cost an estimated £90m, has suffered a setback. The initiative, which aims to attract thousands of tourists to the Titanic Quarter, had applied to receive 25m of lottery money and has now f
19/10/2007
An Irish building company has announced it will be offering homebuyers 'fit-outs' worth €8,500 to €22,000 in its latest development at The Coast in the Baldoyle area of Dublin. Menolly Homes has offered the money to pay for everything including blinds, floors, sofas, televisions, chairs and bathroo
19/10/2007
While there are conflicting signals on the cost of buying property nationally, Northern Ireland town's and cities now occupy all but two of the Halifax's Top 10 most sought-after places to buy a home, with the overall list topped by Newtownards. Although predictions of a UK house price crash have s
19/10/2007
The manufacture of fabricated metal products, such as quarrying equipment, is one sector in the Northern Ireland economy that is growing. The numerous engineering firms located across Northern Ireland generate this growth and these businesses are to be encouraged and supported as they grow. One of
19/10/2007
NI Regional Development Minister, Conor Murphy, has welcomed Roads Service’s progress on investment totalling £3.25 million in the Castlereagh Borough. The Minister said: “In March 2007 Roads Service commenced the statutory procedures for the A55 Knock Road widening. This will culmininate in produc
19/10/2007
Irish firm Suir Engineering Ltd are to be acquired by Dutch owned services provider Imtech NV. The acquisition by Imtech in Ireland is expected to be completed by the end of the year subject to approval from the Irish Competition Authority. Suir generated a turnover of €63 million in the financial
19/10/2007
The development of a new policy on architecture has been announced by Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government John Gormley at the launch of Open House Dublin 2007. The Minister said: “it is important to respond to the changing nature of issues relating to the evolution of the bu
19/10/2007
The theme of the 2007 European Week for Safety and Health at Work will be 'Lighten the Load'. The Week will run from 22 to 26 October, and will focus on taking the "pain" out of work. Bad backs, sore shoulders and wrists can all result from not working correctly. This is a big problem affecting one
18/10/2007
Irish property investor Blackrock International Land plc has entered into a new 50:50 joint venture to acquire approximately 300 acres of agricultural land on the south side of Edinburgh. The purchase has been made in conjunction with Applecross Properties Limited and Esk Properties Limited in a co
18/10/2007
Ireland's Minister for Housing has announced €7m in Housing Aid for the Elderly. The additional funding for the Health Service Executive for 2007 is being allocated by the Task Force on Special Housing Aid for the Elderly, under the aegis of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Gov
18/10/2007
A FAS/ESRI Employment and Vacancies Survey for September 2007 has revealed a 3 per cent increase in reported vacancies in the construction sector, rising to a total of 8 per cent this year. Year-on-year, however, vacancies have fallen by 4 per cent. The construction sector employers' employment ou
18/10/2007
A new £1.6million Centre of Excellence launched recently, will help commercialise potentially ‘ground breaking’ products and concepts developed within the Province’s health service. Hoping to emulate such global successes as the first ever mobile heart defibrillator - originally dream
18/10/2007
With the current slowdown trend in the housing market in Ireland, the 8th Annual Conference of the Society of Chartered Surveyors (SCS) will be attended by a number of top governmental, property and planning professionals to discuss these controversial issues. The theme chosen for this year’s SCS A
18/10/2007
Following the success of the Erne-Shannon Waterway project, which re-opened sections of canal linking Upper Lough Erne with the Shannon, at Leitrim, plans for an expanded all-Ireland waterway, which will link more than 400 miles of canal have been announced. Ministers said they wanted to move for
18/10/2007
For the second time in three years, the Galway-based medical devices company Boston Scientific has won the 'Company of the Year' award in the prestigious Engineers Ireland Continuing Professional Development (CPD) competition. The awards recognise those companies that have demonstrated clear-cut bu
18/10/2007
There is to be more than the usual Christmas tree in front of Belfast City Hall this festive season. Work gets underway this week to erect Belfast's very own ‘Big Wheel’, which is set to rival the London Eye as a tourist attraction. The construction of the massive 60m, £3.5m wheel is underway outs
17/10/2007
The Minister for social development has announced a £155 million regeneration of Coleraine town centre during a visit to the area. The money will primarily finance two schemes, the Abbey Street car park and Mall car parks located in the centre of Coleraine. The new developments will include new sho
17/10/2007
Lands worth €10 million have been donated by the Bishop of Killaloe, Dr Willie Walsh, for the construction of residential housing and a day-care centre to cater for the needs of a growing elderly population in Ennis, Co Clare. Around 15.5 acres of land located at the back of the Cahercalla hospital
17/10/2007
East Mayo is to receive a huge boost to its economy in the form of a new world-class trade centre. The Cairn International Trade Centre, which will be based in Kiltimagh, which will comprise 32,000 square feet of top drawer office space, will bring 150 jobs to the town. The ambitious project is ho
17/10/2007
CEM systems, a leading access control brand of Tyco International, based in Belfast, has announced that Abu Dhabi Gas Industries Ltd (GASCO) has chosen the AC2000 SE (Standard Edition) security management system to secure its Ruwais plant. CEM was awarded the contract by Wormald Italiana, Italy. O
17/10/2007
Belfast’s Victoria Square has appointed Hugh Black as its new Centre Manager. Managing Agents, Savills HOK, made the new appointment for the shopping and leisure venue which will open on the March 6, 2008. Black, who moves from designer sales outlet, Junction One, said: “Victoria Square will bring
17/10/2007
The Irish Business and Employers Commission is pointing to a €1 billion economic slowdown this year, and blaming it on a fall in house building. The IBEC’s October publication on economic trends states that Irish economic growth in recent years has been overly dependent on domestic demand, in parti
17/10/2007
HEAT, the Belfast based specialists in the design, installation and maintenance of central heating systems in the social housing market sector, has won a National Training Award. The award which recognises outstanding achievement and success through training and development, was presented at a gala
17/10/2007
Three local construction apprentices are celebrating their success at the UK Skillbuild national finals held at South Birmingham College last week. James Ross (18) from South Eastern Regional College and Trevor Woods (18) from South West College both achieved silver medals in carpentry and joinery
16/10/2007
A huge building development in North Belfast is set to make a major impact on a previously blighted area. The innovative £200m plan aims to redevelop not only what is now one of the city’s most disadvantaged areas, but one that also incorporates architecturally and historically unique properties.
16/10/2007
Proposals for the expansion of a Co Meath incinerator has been given the go ahead by the Irish planning board. The Indaver Ireland plant will now be able to raise its capacity after the controversial 31 conditioned decision by An Bord Pleanála, allowing the facility to accept waste materials from o
16/10/2007
Kestrel, a leading manufacturer of no lead, no tin, 100% calcium organic core and skin PVC-UE and PVC-U roofline, cladding and window trim products, has announced that Business Development Manager John Gunn will be working closely in-situ with customers in Northern Ireland and the Republic. His key
16/10/2007
The construction industries role in maintaining public health will be investigated today at an international conference in Dublin. The conference, entitled 'Healthy Public Policy - Is Health Impact Assessment the Cornerstone?' will analyse the health impacts of new projects in terms of their effec
16/10/2007
The major Irish firm of architects, designers and project managers Douglas Wallace has acquired Corporate Edge Interiors and Architecture, in a deal worth €1 million. The deal follows Douglas Wallace’s recent acquisition of Ferguson Wheeler, the leading Belfast based architecture and design practic
16/10/2007
The Irish Arts Minister has announced an international design competition for Dublin’s new National theatre. The National Theatre, known as the Abbey, will be situated in the Dublin Dockland's at George's Dock. The new build will be over 24,000 sqm and include three theatres and a host of shops, ba
16/10/2007
A Galway based firm has managed to build a multinational company by simply gaining permissions from other companies to remanufacture their products. Multis, who were established in 1994, employs 150 people and has generated an extra €200 million for technology multinationals HP and Sun Microsysrems
16/10/2007
Expo Events, Ireland's largest leading events and exhibition organiser, has succeeded in winning the competitive tender to manage Bloom 2008 and 2009 on behalf of Bord Bia. Bord Bia's Bloom 2007, Ireland's biggest gardening showcase, was successfully coordinated by Expo Events and the event attr
15/10/2007
A Galway firm responsible for the construction of a second terminal at Dublin Airport has reported turnover of over €95 million. With pretax profits of €1.25 million, the Galway company owned by Patrick, Thomas and Olive Coffey gained a substantial tranche of the €180 million in contracts for the c
15/10/2007
A new €40 million state-of-the-art civic centre is to be constructed close to the M50 motorway. Dun Laoighaire/Rathdown County Council is to build the Samuel Beckett Civic Campus project sited at Ballyogan. It will be one of the largest of its type in Ireland will see civic community services locat
15/10/2007
Ireland's water services infrastructure is to receive a €4.7 billion overhaul, according to the the Environment Minister. Minister John Gormley, outlined a series of new directives, plans for a new licensing system, that will set stricter limits on discharges from waste water works. He said: "The
12/10/2007
A Belfast based construction company has been fined £22,500 after pleading guilty to breaches of health and safety regulations. McGreevy Construction were fined following an extensive and thorough investigation by the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) of the partial collapse
12/10/2007
Delegates at the National Construction Conference 2007 called for the withdrawal of the draft short form of contract circulated by the Government Construction Contract Committee (GCCC). Director of Contracting at the Construction Industry Federation (CIF), Don O’Sullivan also told the audience it w
12/10/2007
The Queen has unveiled a new memorial to honour the thousands of British Armed Forces who have been killed in conflict since the end of World War II. Constructed by a County Down firm of stonemasons, the £6 million National Armed Forces Memorial is a stone circle in Alrewas in Staffordshire and whi
12/10/2007
Micheal Martin, the Irish Enterprise Minister has turned the sod on a new power station in County Cork. The Aghada power plant, cost €400 million to construct, and will generate 400 megawatts of electricity for the national grid every year. The plant, which is due to be completed in 2009, will sit
12/10/2007
Around £350 million worth of damage has been caused in homes across the UK, by people trying to copy things they have watched on DIY shows, according to a recent survey. The Halifax Insurance survey revealed around 750,000 people have caused damage to their properties, while trying to imitate impro
12/10/2007
An Irish consortium has been chosen to build the €200 million U2 Tower in Dublin’s docklands. The property, which is due to be completed in 2011, will be constructed by Geranger, a consortium of Ballymore Properties, Patrick McKillen and August Partners (U2 Band members and management) has been se
12/10/2007
After only three years in business, TheBusinessShop.ie is currently advertising over 330 business opportunities within the 32 counties, valued at over €200 million. This remarkable growth rate has resulted in a high percentage of international traffic, approximately 40 per cent from the Irish Diasp
11/10/2007
An Irish based homebuilders company has submitted planning permission for a downsized version of a building plan which was refused last year. Manor Park Homebuilders wants to build a 26-storey tower in Dublin’s Digital Hub - 20-storeys and 40 metres lower than the one previously planned for Thomas
11/10/2007
Bord Gáis has confirmed that a further six towns qualify for connection to the natural gas network. The six towns are: Gort and Loughrea in Co. Galway, Ballinrobe in Co. Mayo, Cahir and Cashel in Co. Tipperary and Monasterevin in Co. Kildare. The cost of bringing gas to these six towns is approxima
11/10/2007
The largest ever Niall Mellon Township Trust (NMTT) Building Blitz is due to take place on November 2, with the announcement that 1,350 men and women will be setting off to South Africa. In its fifth year, the annual Building Blitz will see Irish volunteers building a planned 200 houses in Freedom
11/10/2007
A new survey published has revealed that almost one-in-four builders expect the house prices of new builds to fall next year. The latest Merrion Irish Housebuilder Survey, which covers the autumn of 2007, also said that around 60 per cent of builders now expect to build fewer houses next year than
11/10/2007
Ulster Bank economist Pat McArdle has predicted that the Irish economy and construction sector is going through a "period of necessary adjustment". He revealed that house prices will fall further before the market will pick up again, and said the Irish economy is going through "a necessary period o
11/10/2007
The N7 Naas Road widening scheme has become the first construction project in the Republic of Ireland to gain a Civil Engineering Environmental Quality Assessment and Award (CEEQUAL). The Naas Road Widening and Interchanges scheme consisted of an upgrade of a 14km length of the existing N7 between
11/10/2007
A £3 million investment supported by Invest Northern Ireland has helped Ballymena-based Moore Concrete Products Limited to more than double its export business in just 12 months. Moore Concrete manufactures high quality pre-cast concrete products for the civil engineering, building and agricultural
11/10/2007
An unprecedented opportunity is being offered to the public to shape the future image of Belfast at home and abroad. International brand consultants, Lloyd Northover, who have been tasked with creating a new brand for the city by Belfast City Council, have set up an online questionnaire online to a
10/10/2007
Viridian Group has announced the completion of its second electricity plant at Huntstown in North Dublin. The power station was commissioned on schedule and started supplying the national grid last week. Huntstown 2 is a Mitsubishi designed high efficiency Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) unit gen
10/10/2007
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has acknowledged Ireland's competitiveness has been affected by the rise of the euro in a speech to an IBEC audience in Dublin. Mr Ahern also said growth will be less dramatic and more sustainable in the future, while confirming that any fall off in economic growth would inev
10/10/2007
Corus the international steel company based in Lisburn, Ireland have had a double success in the recent prestigious Irish transport awards. Corus reached the final as one of only three companies to achieve a place in the Export & Freight Transport & Logistics Awards shortlist in the category of ‘Ow
10/10/2007
Ten Irish organisations, including one hospital department and a statutory body, are among the 12 companies who have made the shortlist in the prestigious Engineers Ireland Continuing Professional Development (CPD) 'Company of the Year Award'. The award recognises those companies that have demonstr
10/10/2007
An Irish exploration company have announced a significant discovery of oil off the south east coast of Ireland. Providence Resources revealed the good quality oil off the coast of Wexford, from testing wells around 60km off Hook Head in the North Celtic Sea. It was found in an area where it is dri
10/10/2007
Businesses in Northern Ireland have been urged to wake up to the dangers of identity fraud. The warning comes from leading business networking organisation B4B who have teamed up with local onsite confidential document destruction company, ShredBank, to raise awareness of the problem to coincide wi
10/10/2007
Eight construction apprentices from the province have headed off to compete in the Skillbuild national finals at South Birmingham College. The young students will be representing Northern Ireland at this prestigious competition and will be competing against 100 other regional winners in trade area
10/10/2007
A new report has been released today which shows that air quality in Ireland was good throughout the country and compiled with all the air quality standards in force across Europe for all pollutants. The 'EPA report Air Quality in Ireland 2006 - Key Indicators of Ambient Air Quality', released resu
09/10/2007
The billionaire owner of the Quinn Group has applied to An Bord Pleanala to build a 450 megawatt combined cycle gas turbine in County Louth. Sean Quinn wants to add the 14-acre site at Toomes to his growing business empire. The site is close to both a 220 kv connection to the national grid and to
09/10/2007
The ability of construction firms to embrace sustainability will be a key factor in their future profitability, growth and survival, and a Construction Employers Federation conference is set to address these issues. The topics to be discussed include looming legislation, client requirements, govern
09/10/2007
White Young Green (WYG), consultant to the built, natural and social environment is pleased to announce the acquisition of P H McCarthy & Partners Limited (PHMP), one of Ireland's leading engineering consultancies with offices in Dublin and Limerick. Established over 100 years ago by Patrick Harnet
09/10/2007
Dublin City Council has announced plans for a new urban regeneration scheme for the Liberties area of the city’s inner city, to be developed in close consultation with the local community. A regeneration framework plan for the area will be implemented and will be extended from St James' Hospital to
09/10/2007
Global construction and management consultancy, Turner & Townsend have been appointed to provide detailed costings for the first phase of the £16 million regeneration of Belfast City Centre. The projects, known as 'Belfast: Streets Ahead', is the vision of the Department for Social Development to r
09/10/2007
Regional Development Minister, Conor Murphy, has welcomed Road's Service's progress on investment totalling £2 million in the Carrickfergus Borough this year. Speaking ahead of tonight’s meeting between Roads Service and Carrickfergus Borough Council, the Minister said: "In March 2007 Roads Service
09/10/2007
Freefoam Plastics is pleased to announce that HHI Building Products from Northern Ireland once again topped the Freefoam guarantee table for the first six months of 2007. They registered the highest number of installations since the start of 2007, signifying their continued commitment to providing
09/10/2007
South Dublin Council councillors have voted against a planning application that would have offered 300 cut-price homes for young buyers. Sandymark Construction had applied to build up to 5,000 houses at Newcastle, County Dublin. At a meeting, the council heard the company had already drawn up a li
08/10/2007
Two voluntary hospitals in Cork are due to amalgamate to develop a new multi-million hospital on a green field site, it has been announced. The Mercy Hospital University Hospital and the South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital made the announcement in a joint statement, which said they wish to
08/10/2007
Around 200 objections have been filed in relation to Sean Dunne's plans to redevelop the Jury’s Berkeley Court site in Ballsbridge, Dublin 4, it has been revealed. Mr Dunne has plans to construct a 37-storey tower which would include apartments, offices, shops and hotel. Submissions against the si
08/10/2007
Newington Day Centre (NDC) today opened new facilities thanks to over £280,000 from the Department for Social Development (SDS). NDC provides support services for older people and carers across the local community in North Belfast, including daily meals and a range of social, occupational and thera
08/10/2007
A Dublin Development company has been ordered to hand over a number of units within its development at Cabinteeley Green, County Dublin, to the Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council. The Sloyan Brothers, under Part V of the Planning Act, have been informed that up to 20 per cent of all new developm
08/10/2007
Construction and Management Consultancy Healy Kelly Turner & Townsend has appointed Jessie Hiney as Associate Director responsible for the provision of PPP consultancy in Ireland. Previously with EC Harris, London, Jessie will join the Healy Kelly Turner & Townsend Dublin office working on a number
08/10/2007
A leading economist has revealed the sharpest construction slowdown in more than four years could see house prices return to growth by next summer. Ulster Bank’s chief economist Pat McArdle also said that further decline was recorded in September and there had been a steady decline in the level of
08/10/2007
Responding to the recent price increase announced by Northern Ireland Electricity (NIE), Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie has publicised her disappointment in the NIE increasing its tariffs for domestic customers by more than the rate of inflation. She also said she is due to meet with
08/10/2007
A housing charity has revealed that builders are overcharging home buyers and inflating house prices. Respond has also accused wealthy property developers of unacceptable profiteering from inflated house prices, and said builders are pocketing around €170,000 in profit from average house sales in I
05/10/2007
Concrete evidence of serious recruitment challenges and skills shortages in the consultancy and engineering sector is revealed today with the launch of a damning new report from leading industry group, the Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE). ACE’s ‘Skills Shortages and Recruitment Ag
05/10/2007
The Irish Business and Employers Confederation (IBEC) has called for the quick implementation of the National Development Plan to offset the negative impact of the house construction slump. In a pre-budget submission, IBEC Director General, Turlough O’Sullivan said: "The next Budget should focus on
05/10/2007
Figures released today by Permanent TSB have shown a 3.3 per cent dip in house prices. The property consultants CB Richard Ellis have said prices may continue to fall; however there will be no crash. The company are confident that the new homes sector, which experienced a decline of just below two
05/10/2007
The Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has opened a new €2 million productivity centre, aimed at helping companies improve their productivity. Based at the IMI campus in Sandyford, the National Productivity Centre (NPC) has been established by the Irish Management Institute (IMI) and Microsoft Ireland, and sup
05/10/2007
The Environment Protection Agency (EPA) has published a revised draft of Ireland’s second National Allocation Plan for Emissions Trading in Ireland. This follows the conditional approvals given by the EU Commission in November 2006 and July 2007 to the previous draft and the subsequent revised dire
05/10/2007
A former favourite haunt of Dublin flat residents is to be transformed into a new development, complete with 44 new apartments, shops and a medical centre. Developers Gerard Kelly, Stephen Loftus and John Dempsey have acquired Blackberry Fair market site. The market had memories for locals and fla
05/10/2007
The Federation of Small Businesses has published a report and DVD examining the impact that regulation has on entrepreneurs. It highlights the fact that the average small business spends seven hours per week dealing with regulations and paperwork. The DVD is a compilation of interviews with small
05/10/2007
CEM Systems, an access control brand of Tyco International, has announced that Durham Tees Valley Airport, UK has chosen the CEM AC2000 AE (Airport Edition) security management system. Currently undergoing a £56 million expansion and development programme, the Durham Tees Valley Airport has invest
04/10/2007
Minister for Social Development Margaret Ritchie today said she would take time to consider the way forward for the former Andersonstown PSNI site, after it was announced the Carvill Group has decided to withdraw its proposals to develop the site. "I have been informed by the Carvill Group that, wi
04/10/2007
Investing in the UK property market is not without risk, however, as cracks start to appear in traditional overseas property markets such as Spain, Belvoir, the Northern Ireland based residential lettings and property management specialist says more cautious investors are taking a fresh look at buy
04/10/2007
A Cork-based crane and plant hire company has been bought over by the son of the company’s founder, for an undisclosed sum. William O'Brien Junior has bought out the entire share capital of William O'Brien Plant Hire. "I am delighted to be keeping the business in family ownership,” William O'Brien
04/10/2007
The first national energy efficiency action plan has been announced, at the EirGrid Annual Customer Conference in Dublin. The Minister for Energy, Eamonn Ryan announced the plan, which aims at saving €1.7 million each year. He commented: "Energy Efficiency is no longer optional. It is necessary if
04/10/2007
Michelle Gildernew, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, has officially re-opened the Ballyronan Marina on the shores of Lough Neagh. Over £500,000 has been invested in renovating and refurbishing the Marina which is owned by Cookstown District Council. The marina has been extended to
04/10/2007
Cork’s Heritage Council is currently seeking applications for funding a wide range of projects and to enhance the national heritage. It has allocated almost €2.5 million for seven grant schemes for next year. The funding round is now open and projects that will be considered include local heritage,
04/10/2007
A new improved Women’s Centre for the Ballymurphy area of West Belfast was officially opened today. The £350,000 refurbishment was financed by the Department for Social Development (DSD) Belfast Regeneration Office under the Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy, and includes £223,000 for salary and runni
04/10/2007
A University of Ulster designer is creating super strong materials that could help revolutionise the construction industry and has succeeded in a national competition funding to support her work. Dr Julie Soden, a lecturer in constructed textile design and a member of the University's Art and Desig
03/10/2007
The Irish Government has unveiled its first national energy efficiency action plan aimed at saving 1.7million euro every year. The initiative was launched by Energy Minister Eamon Ryan today at the EirGrid Annual Customer Conference in Dublin. It will commit Ireland to achieving energy efficiency
03/10/2007
Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council will commence major road works on the Sandyford Road as part of the Infrastructural Scheme for the area. The works will start on Monday, 8 October, and it is anticipated it will take one year to complete. It will mean that only one-way traffic outbound will be
03/10/2007
Engineers Ireland will host its annual Continual Professional Development (CPD) Awards in a few weeks' time. The CPD Company of the Year Award will held at a ceremony, exclusive to CPD accredited organisations on 17 October. The Award, now in its fourth year, helps to identify and share the best C
03/10/2007
County Derry based concrete products manufacturer Tobermore has announced it is to create 100 new jobs as it embarks on an expansion costing £10 million. Tobermore will build a new factory to accommodate for the increases in staff and production. Speaking to the BBC, David Henderson, Managing Dire
03/10/2007
Derry's Playhouse Theatre was handed over to building contractors on Monday so that refurbishment work on the site could commence. The revamp for the theatre, costing £4.3 million is expected to be complete at the beginning of 2009. Speaking to the Derry Journal, Niall McCaughan, General Manager o
03/10/2007
Belfast City Council has given the green light to Ravenhill rugby ground's redevelopment plans. The £6 million facelift will include the construction of three new grandstands with hospitality areas and new entrances at Onslow Parade and Mount Merrion in south Belfast. Previous plans had been rubbe
03/10/2007
Construction and Management Consultants Turner & Townsend recently hosted an NEC3 Seminar at the Malone Lodge Hotel, Belfast, following an increase in the uptake of the NEC3 Form of Contract. Attended by various public bodies, the seminar was the first hosted by Turner & Townsend in Northern Irelan
03/10/2007
JFC's involvement in the stormwater sector over the last five years has led to the development of a complete range of Stormwater Management Products. The latest being the JFC HydroChamber Stormwater Management System. The system's advanced design offers excellent load bearing capacity with ease of
02/10/2007
Blackrock International Land and Total Produce, both spin-off companies of fruit company Fyffes, have announced a joint venture to acquire 135 acres of land in Dublin. The land is located at The Ward in north Dublin, close to the new N2 motorway which links the M50 interchange at Finglas to Ashbour
02/10/2007
The Minister for Environment today announced that outline planning permission is to be granted for phase two of the Titanic Quarter. Arlene Foster said the terms of the proposed development is the largest application ever dealt with by the Northern Ireland Planning Service. The scheme will provide
02/10/2007
Minister for Environment John Gormley has signed a temporary preservation order for the national monument in Tara Valley, Co Meath. Mr Gormley ordered an assessment over reports by opponents to the planned M3 route, that work had damaged the Rath Lugh fort, which lies nearby. The order was signed
02/10/2007
Ballymore Properties have won Property Company of the Year in Ireland at the annual Estates Gazette (EG) Awards. The event took place last Wednesday night, 26 September, at Grosvenor House Hotel, London. The Award was presented by guest speaker Jack Dee to Trish Henderson, Head of Sales for Ballym
02/10/2007
In 2005, Turner & Townsend was appointed by the Department for Social Development as part of an integrated design team led by EDAW to prepare a master plan for the £16m regeneration of the public realm in Belfast City Centre. The project has now progressed beyond design development to first phase c
02/10/2007
iSafe, a software product developed by Olive Safety and currently being piloted by two Irish companies, was launched at the recent Irish Building Exhibition in the RDS where it was awarded a prize in the 'Best New Product of the Show' category. iSafe is a single IT solution tailored to help Irish b
02/10/2007
ConstructionSkills and the Federation of Master Builders recently held the first in a series of Business Improvement Evenings at the Templeton Hotel in Ballyclare. Presentations on the evening were given by the Management and Leadership Network and Building Control, focusing on developing world cla
02/10/2007
Tyco Electronics will close its Shannon plant, with the loss of 178 jobs. The US firm, who make electronic components, made the decision last week in a meeting with employees to transfer all its manufacturing to its sister companies. All operations will cease in Ireland and instead will be transf
01/10/2007
Today marks the kick-off of Quarry Safety Week and the start of an intensive week of quarry examinations across the country by inspectors from the Health and Safety authority (HSA). According to the HSA senior inspector, Pat Griffin: "Quarries are still one of the most dangerous places to work. Sin
01/10/2007
A children's 'super prison' will be constructed, replacing five residential homes in north Dublin, it has been revealed. The proposed prison in Lusk will create a centre for convicted teenagers, and it will be located alongside three existing schools - Trinity House, Oberstown Boys and Oberstown Gi
01/10/2007
A Swedish ventilation and construction firm has bought Irish company Aervent in a €7.36 million deal. The acquisition will make Lindab International AB the leading provider of ventilation products to the Irish market. Dublin-based Aervent Group is a supplier of products and services for air-duct s
01/10/2007
A new innovation for ceiling and wall sanding has just been announced to the dry lining industry. Described as a 'drive along' ceiling and wall sander, a new tool is called Vezos HandySand. Manufactured in Greece with full CE certification with an International Patent Pending, the HandySand, powere
01/10/2007
A major seminar which took place in Dublin last week heard that in attempting combat climate change while securing energy supply, Ireland needs to consider looking to nuclear energy as a potential solution. Speaking before the seminar on Thursday 27 September, Engineers Ireland Director General Joh
01/10/2007
The former chairman of An Taisce, Michael Smith, has promised to challenge plans to redevelop the U2-owned Clarence Hotel into a city landmark. Mr Smith said that if An Bord Pleanala allowed the application to go through, he would take legal action to save the architectural integrity of the Quays.
01/10/2007
A well designed kitchen will allow you to move smoothly from one task to the next in a logical effortless manner. Achieving this kind of seamless experience in you kitchen starts at the planning stage. With consumers spending more and more money, and of course their SSIA, on the latest high tech a
01/10/2007
HSENI's latest Annual Report and Statement of Accounts, covering the period April 2006 to March 2007, has shown that over the five year period from 2002 to 2007, the number of injuries at work being reported has fallen from 4,467 to 3,524, representing a 21 per cent reduction. Professor Peter McKie
