The Director-General of the Construction Industry Federation has said that less than 20,000 houses will be built this year and less than 10,000 next year.
Speaking to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, trade and Employment, Tom Parlon warned the workload for the next few years would be 'dismal'.
Mr Parlon urged the Government to try to continue with infrastructure development.
He also said there is 'good value to be had now,' as costs are down by 30%.
Last week, the Society of Chartered Surveyors warned that a further 100,000 jobs were at risk in the construction sector unless the Government introduced anti-recession stimulus measures without delay.
Ken Cribbon said that at the height of the economic boom 380,000 people were employed in the construction industry and that the figure was set to be halved by the end of this year.
