Activity in the Irish construction sector continued to weaken in January, but the pace of deterioration slowed from the drop in December as the severe winter weather eased.
The Ulster Bank construction purchasing managers' index - a seasonally adjusted index which tracks changes in total construction activity - posted a reading of 45.3, up from December's reading of 40.6. Any figure below 50 signals contraction.
The survey noted that activity, new orders and employment all continued to decrease during January. The construction sector has declined every month since June 2007.
The index looks at three sectors of the construction sector - housing, commercial and civil engineering. The civil engineering sector continued to be the worst-performing sector with the index falling 30.2 from 37.4. Commercial activity fell at a marked pace, while housing activity decreased at the second-lowest pace since February 2007.
Ulster Bank says that the rate of contraction in new business moderated last month, mainly due to repair work following the severe weather in December. But employment numbers at Irish building firms fell for the 45th successive month in January.
The index noted that business sentiment improved slightly last month as it reached a five-month high. 'Positive sentiment regarding the prospects for activity growth over the coming year partly reflected improving global economic conditions,' Ulster Bank said.
(BMcC/GK)
Construction News
14/02/2011
Severe Winter Hits Irish Builders

19/02/2025
Work is set to commence on a new £671m Northern Ireland children's hospital 'in a matter of days', the NI Executive has announced.
With a five-year construction timetable, the 10-floor state-of-the-art facility located within Belfast's Royal Victoria Hospital site is projected to be opened by Belf

19/02/2025
County Tipperary-based Glas Civil Engineering has commenced works on a major active travel project in County Kildare.
The project includes a comprehensive upgrade of Mill Street, Maynooth, spanning from the Leinster Street /Main Street junction to the Kilcock Road / Moyglare Road junction.
The en

19/02/2025
Northern Ireland construction firm GRAHAM has been awarded a significant contract by Surrey County Council to deliver essential improvements to the A320 north of Woking highway.
This is a key infrastructure project funded through Homes England's Housing Infrastructure Fund.
The scheme, designed t

19/02/2025
A £1.1m project to provide new and improved facilities at a County Armagh primary school has been completed.
Education Minister Paul Givan officially opened the upgraded Foley Primary School, which saw additions of a multi-purpose sports hall, two mobile classrooms, new school central heating syste

19/02/2025
Ward and Burke Construction Ltd has commenced works on behalf of Uisce Éireann to replace ageing and damaged watermains in Snave, County Cork.
Over 800 metres of old watermains, which are prone to frequent bursts and leakage, will be replaced and upgraded with new modern pipes. Once completed, whic

19/02/2025
Works to repair a historic clock in County Down have successfully been completed.
The refurbishment of Dan Rice Hall's clock tower in Drumaness was made viable following an investment of £15,000 by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, with funds going towards new clock faces, back light feature

19/02/2025
Representatives from Galway City Council and Galway's Westend business association met this week to explore current and future projects for their area.
Topics covered during these discussions included potential improvements at Father Burke Park, the current summer pedestrianisation, public realm im

19/02/2025
The deadline for applications to NI Water's award-winning Entry Level Academy has been extended.
Submissions for the 23 highly sought after apprenticeship, higher level apprenticeship and graduate jobs will now close on Monday, February 24, at 10am.
NI Water's Entry Level Co-ordinator, Stacey Wats

19/02/2025
Public opinion is being sought for the development of an exciting project in County Waterford.
The Thomas Street Creative Project is an initiative to inform and shape the local community and the cultural direction of Thomas Street in the heart of Waterford’s Cultural Quarter (WCQ).
With the public

19/02/2025
A road closure is set to commence next week to facilitate essential drainage works in advance of a road reconstruction project at the L5036 in County Wicklow.
Beginning Monday, February 24, the L5036-Ballinastoe Road will close for approximately 2 weeks. A diversion route will be in place through t