The construction industry has been left “arguably more exposed” than farmers to the fuel crisis, the Construction Industry Federation has said. 

Today, the Government will announce the exact details of its fuel support scheme, which it promised in the wake of the fuel protests that gripped the nation earlier this month. 

Firms that work in the agriculture, quarries, haulage, and fisheries sectors will also be included. 

On Newstalk Breakfast, Construction Industry Federation CEO Andrew Brownlee said any financial assistance for the industry is “really welcome”. 

“All the raw materials that go into building houses and developing infrastructure, the cement, the concrete, the steel that's all generated from fuel intensive processes,” he explained. 

“If you think about construction sites, all the plant machinery that's used, the excavators, the diggers, the mobile cranes, that's all powered by green diesel or MGO fuel. 

“So, that 83% increase in the price of MGO fuel in a matter of weeks really has hit our industry hard.” 

Builders at work in Rathcoole. Picture by: Laura Hutton/Photocall Ireland. 

Mr Brownlee continued that the construction sector is “arguably more exposed [than] the agriculture sector” to the fuel shock. 

“The construction industry consumes at least 250 million litres of MGO fuel to power its plant and machinery,” he added. 

“So, you're talking about an additional fuel cost of circa €200 million. 

“That's substantial and that really is disruptive. 

“So, this kind of short-term measure really will help our industry to continue to deliver the homes and build the infrastructure.” 

The Government has briefed that the fuel relief scheme will open for applications next month and will benefit an estimated 120,000 workers.

Main image: Builders at work. Picture by: Eamonn Farrell/RollingNews.ie.