Key projects in €165bn development plan at risk as inflation bites

Latest figures from the CSO show that the price of construction materials are up almost 20 per cent in the first quarter of this year, while builders say fixed pricing makes contracts commercially unattractive or unviable

Paschal Donohoe, Minister for Finance, and Michael McGrath, Minister for Public Expenditure: a review of capital projects that are in the pipeline in areas including housing, transport, health and education was completed last week by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform

Key projects in the government’s €165 billion National Development Plan (NDP) are at risk of being scrapped or delayed if construction costs continue to soar, the Business Post has learned.

A review of capital projects that are in the pipeline in areas including housing, transport, health and education was completed last week by officials in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER).

It found weaker-than-normal interest among construction firms for new public works contracts, ...