Focus on infrastructure needed to boost housing delivery, says construction industry

The Irish construction industry cannot build enough homes to meet demand unless more money is ring-fenced for the provision and maintenance of critical utilities infrastructure like water and electricity, the Construction Industry Federation (CIF) has said. In advance of its annual conference in Dublin on Tuesday, the industry body said without investment in basic infrastructure, multinational companies will look elsewhere for investment locations. One week away from Budget 2025, CIF said it wants the Coalition to ringfence more capital in the Republic’s water and wastewater infrastructure. In the long run, it also wants the Government to develop “a plan-led approach to infrastructure to ensure critical utilities”. “At least 60,000 houses a year are needed,” said CIF director general Hubert Fitzpatrick in a statement. “The industry cannot build houses at scale without water and electricity infrastructure connections in place.” Read the full story here.