Figures released by the Central Statistics Office indicate that the volume of output in building and construction rose by 3.9% in the fourth quarter of 2011 when compared with the preceding period.
The number of homes built fell, in the same comparison, with output in residential building falling by 1.1%. Non- residential building increased by 2.1%.
When viewed on an annual basis, the volume of output decreased by 5.1% when compared with the same period in 2010. The value of production also fell.
Residential output fell by 15.2% by comparison with the last quarter of 2010. Civil engineering output was down 9.1%
Across Europe, output rose 2.1% across the EU between the end of 2010 and 2011. The increase was 1.5% in the euro zone.
Estonia recorded the largest increase of 38.9%, followed by Lithuania and Latvia. Slovenia recorded the biggest fall (19.4%) in construction output ahead of Portugal and Bulgaria.
