The recent media reports and comments from An Taoiseach and other Ministers indicate that construction will be in the first phase of any reopening and easing of restrictions. The current most likely date for full reopening is March 5th however the CIF will be meeting An Taoiseach, Government Officials and other relevant Ministers to explain the requirement for a remobilisation period in advance of March 5th.

The Government is primarily focused on the phased reopening of schools and the construction sector next month, with close monitoring of the impact of increased movement which will likely dictate whether more restrictions can be eased in April. The Irish Home Builders Association (IHBA) estimates that the current lockdown has already taken 8,000 houses off supply this year on top of the negative 5,000 shortfall from 2020.

As expected with this current lockdown, the number of project starts on-site are down significantly compared with this time last year. There is positive news however with January planning applications and  decisions in ROI & NI ahead when compared to January 2020. Our Research Team have produced graphs of these trends and public sector tenders which can be seen below. 

As mentioned in previous updates, our research experts and technology are primed to bring you the very latest news on the the evolving situation and provide you with market leading construction intelligence so that you can identify the right business opportunities and make informed decisions. Why not use this time to your advantage to plan and build your pipeline for 2021 and beyond.

You can contact our Customer Support Team by email or call 01 2999 200 for any updates and queries you may have.