The Taoiseach has unveiled plans for a major stimulus of the construction sector which aims to create around 60,000 new jobs. It aims to treble housing builds within six years to instigate a recovery after the economic crash.
Enda Kenny says the strategy will not fuel a new housing bubble, and includes measures to make it easier for first-time buyers to get mortgages for newly-built homes.
The plan will see the setting up of a Housing Supply Coordination task force for Dublin. There will also be €200 million for building projects across the country.
These include the building of roads and social housing. The Taoiseach says the government wants to nurture 'sustainable' growth.
The plan has seen a broad welcome from interest groups.
The Construction Industry Federation (CIF) says the strategy has the potential to provide a considerable boost to construction activity and create thousands of new construction jobs
It has also called for the 75 actions detailed in the strategy document to be prioritised by government "so as to ensure the recent return to growth in parts of the industry develops further".
CIF President Philip Crampton said "The publication of this strategy is a very welcome initiative. We are glad to see that the government is taking a detailed interest in the construction sector in Ireland".
While Property Industry Ireland, the body which represents businesses working in the Irish property and construction sector, has welcomed the plan saying it "recognises that a sustainable recovery in the property sector is important to secure wider economic growth".
