Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Question 102: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to reports indicating that expectations for new job creation in the construction sector have fallen sharply since the beginning of 2006 in contrast with other sectors; his views on whether this indicates a downturn in the construction sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11284/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The latest Quarterly National Household Survey data published by the Central Statistics Office shows the level of employment in construction grew moderately by 1.5% in the final quarter of 2005. Employment in the sector is now at a record level of 251,800. It is unrealistic to assume the dramatic increases in construction employment evident in recent times can be continued. My Department will publish shortly the latest edition of the Quarterly Construction Indicators report prepared by independent economic consultants commissioned by my Department. This report confirms the trend in the sector as being towards further growth in 2006. In the final analysis it is the level of demand from the private and public sector combined for the output of the construction sector which is the determinant of the level of activity and associated employment levels in the industry. Given the present sound state of the economy and the projected demographic outlook, significant fall-off in the level of that demand does not appear imminent.