The volume of output in Ireland's construction sector was 11.2 percent higher in the final quarter of 2014 when compared with the same period 12 months earlier.

New figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) also show that the value of production in the period was 6.6 percent higher than in 2013.

This increase was driven by a recovery in the market for new residential properties- the annual rise in the volume of output reflects a year-on-year increase of 35.8 percent in residential building work.

The volume of output from the sector was 3.6 percent higher than in the previous quarter.

Output volumes in the civil engineering, and non-residential construction were down - falling 3 percent and 0.6 percent.