"The price of this unnecessary lockdown will be felt by first-time buyers as housing output will be depressed," warned CIF director general Tom Parlon. Two major construction bodies, the Construction Industry Federation (CIF) and the Irish Plant Contractors Association (IPCA), warned the Government that restarting the critical sector after lockdown will prove problematic. “The simple reality is that the construction sector cannot just be turned on and off," he said. CIF challenged the Government to allow the full reopening of the construction sector without delay. The construction sector is worth €27bn and contributes 7pc to Ireland’s gross domestic product (GDP).

Source: Irish Independent March 12, 2021 02:26 UTC