Housebuilder Abbey has reported pre-tax profits of €16.99m for the six months to the end of October, up from a profit of €7.65m the same time last year.
In its results statement, Abbey said that it saw strong margins during the six months, a feature which should be sustained into the next half of its fiscal year.
Forward sales are particularly encouraging, the company added.
Abbey's board has declared a dividend of five cents per share, which along with the six cents approved at its AGM in October will make a total of 11 cents for the financial year.
Abbey's housebuilding division completed 225 sales in the six months - 205 in the UK, 15 in Ireland and five in the Czech Republic. This resulted in turnover of €62.63m.
In Ireland, Abbey said its project in Rathfarnham in Dublin is now 90% sold and it is now turning its attention to its project in Lucan, which is due to launch in the new year.
Trading in the UK was good throughout the six month period. But it said this week's announcement by the UK government that it intends to speculatively develop land for housing, will impact the the role of private capital in housebuilding.
It also points to similar plans by government agencies here. The company said the plans raise "fundamental questions about the future environment for private development in both jurisdictions".
