A further 100,000 jobs are at risk in the construction sector unless the Government introduces anti-recession stimulus measures without delay, the President of the Society of Chartered Surveyors has warned.
Ken Cribbon said that at the height of the economic boom 380,000 people were employed in the construction industry and this figure was set to be halved by the end of the year.
He said that while the UK and the US governments had brought forward innovative stimulus packages, the Government seems to be curtailing key infrastructural programmes instead of expanding them.
Speaking at the society's conference, Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan said that, despite remarks made abroad suggesting that Ireland was like Iceland, Ireland will return to a sustainable trajectory and move into balance but this will take time.
The Construction Industry Federation has added its voice to the call to help the ailing construction industry.
Martin Whelan of the CIF said 'such a stimulus package of investment in public infrastructure projects, will act (as) an important measure for protecting jobs in the construction sector'.
