Daily updated construction news for Ireland from http://www.build.ie http://www.build.co.uk/construction_news.asp 09/02/2010 : 08:05:36 Construction work on Dublin's M50 motorway come a step closer to conclusion this morning with the opening of the third lane in both directions between Junction 10 at Ballymount and Junction 14 at Sandyford.However, motorists face the possibility of a rise in toll rates in the summer due to a change in the VAT code. This is despite the fact that VAT was already budgeted into the toll price when t..... http://www.build.ie/construction_news.asp?newsid=106438 08 February 2010 Planners have given the green light to a new Sainsbury's store in Bangor.Jobs in the beleaguered construction sector will follow the decision, which involves the demolition of existing buildings, the construction of a new retail store and extension of the existing retail warehouseIt is the eighth major planning application approved by the Environment Minister in the past twelve months.Minist..... http://www.build.ie/construction_news.asp?newsid=106429 08 February 2010 The Irish Government has been accused of reneging on commitments to regenerate parts of Limerick city, according to a newspaper report.The commitments were made in a €3 billion public-private programme to redevelop the area.However, Fine Gael"s Limerick East TD, Kieran O"Donnell has labelled the plan "a shambles", reports the Irish Times.Mr O'Donnell"s attack comes after comments made by Min..... http://www.build.ie/construction_news.asp?newsid=106446 08 February 2010 The Catholic Church has said it will foot the bill to repair St Mel's Cathedral in Longford, which was extensively damaged in a fire on Christmas Day last year.Estimations have suggested that the cost of construction work on the repairs would be between €2m and €8m.However, Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise Dr Colm O'Reilly said he had "no doubt" this sum could be provided through an insurance..... http://www.build.ie/construction_news.asp?newsid=106431 08 February 2010 A controversial former Co Antrim prison facility is to be further protected.The Maze Prison buildings are to keep their listed status, Northern Ireland Environment Minister, Edwin Poots has announced.Last year, Mr Poots' predecessor Sammy Wilson asked officials for permission to revoke the listed status given to the Maze hospital and part of the H-Blocks.However, Mr Poots has said that an En..... http://www.build.ie/construction_news.asp?newsid=106441 08 February 2010 A stately home in Co Wicklow has been badly damaged in a fire.Fire crews were called out to Russborough House, near Blessington at around 9.30pm on Sunday evening. The crews fought for three hours to bring the blaze under control.The west wing of the building has reportedly suffered severe damage, while part of the roof is understood to have collapsed.Russborough House is widely considered..... http://www.build.ie/construction_news.asp?newsid=106424 08 February 2010 Years of construction work have paid off as more than 200,000 people have now visited the revamped Ulster Museum since it reopened.That makes it the busiest visitor attraction in Northern Ireland, according to the Director of National Museums Northern Ireland, Tim Cooke, who said: "It's great to see so many people from across NI and beyond so excited by the new Ulster Museum. It"s been very enco..... http://www.build.ie/construction_news.asp?newsid=106434 08 February 2010 Members of the public in Co Clare are being urged to provide input on the finalising of a seven-year strategy outlining the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.A public information and consultation session relating to the Draft Clare County Development Plan 2011-2017 will take place at Àras Contae an Chláir in Ennis from 1.00pm to 5.30pm on Monday 15th February 2010. The in..... http://www.build.ie/construction_news.asp?newsid=106413 08 February 2010 The Society of Chartered Surveyors (SCS) has predicted that a further 40,000 construction jobs could in 2010 unless the Government provide a stimulus package.SCS President, Ken Cribben told the audience at the society's annual dinner in Dublin last night that these job losses could be avoided if the Government provides €5bn to build roads, schools and hospitals."The industry is sliding off the..... http://www.build.ie/construction_news.asp?newsid=106356 05 February 2010 An Irish company that designs turbines capable of converting wave power into electricity, has signed a major US development deal.Ocean Energy has agreed a deal with multi-billion dollar US multinational, Dresser-Rand.The Irish company's Chief Executive Officer, John McCarthy said the agreement would significantly develop wave energy in Ireland and should lead to the creation of thousands of jo..... http://www.build.ie/construction_news.asp?newsid=106376 05 February 2010 An initiative designed to enhance the twin villages of Pettigo in Co Donegal and Tullyhommon in Co Fermanagh has been approved. The €8.3m Termon regeneration project, funded by the European Union's PEACE III Programme, will encourage increased cross-community integration through the re-development of the community centre site in Pettigo, the Methodist Hall in Tullyhommon as well as the surround..... http://www.build.ie/construction_news.asp?newsid=106369 05 February 2010 A Co Tyrone man was today given a suspended prison sentence at Enniskillen Crown Court after pleading guilty to illegal waste offences.Patrick Sherry from, Aughnacloy, Co Tyrone, was given a three months prison sentence, suspended for one year, for two offences under the Waste and Contaminated Land Order (Northern Ireland) 1997.On 19 December 2005, officers from the Northern Ireland Environmen..... http://www.build.ie/construction_news.asp?newsid=106363 05 February 2010 Irish Minister of State, Tony Killeen has confirmed that capital funding has been approved for four housing projects in Ennis and the West Clare communities of Tullycreen and Knockadereen, located between Kilrush and Kilmihil.Mr Killeen said the capital investment would provide some 22 units of accommodation for people with specific categories of need including older people, persons with an inte..... http://www.build.ie/construction_news.asp?newsid=106352 05 February 2010 Belfast's groundbreaking Victoria Square has been awarded the UK's top planning prize.The regeneration project scooped the Silver Jubilee Cup in a ceremony celebrating the best planning projects across the UK and Ireland.Bob Neill, Shadow Minister for Communities and Local Government and Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party presented the award to BDP, Victoria Square"s master-planners at ..... http://www.build.ie/construction_news.asp?newsid=106343 05 February 2010 A fresh bid to construct new houses on the site currently occupied by a busy Co Antrim meat processor won't put jobs in jeopardy.Cullybackey's pork processing factory was dramatically saved from closure a year ago, after a planning application to demolish the former Stevenson and Co plant at Fenaghy Road and zone the land for housing was refused.The factory was rescued in January, 2009 by the ..... http://www.build.ie/construction_news.asp?newsid=106330 05 February 2010 A new survey has suggested the Northern Ireland housing market showed modest signs of recovery in the last quarter of 2009.The report, by the University of Ulster and the Bank of Ireland, reveals that the average price over a house in Northern Ireland was £161,429 in the last three months of 2009.The number of transactions was at it"s highest level for two years, according to the survey.The ..... http://www.build.ie/construction_news.asp?newsid=106312 05 February 2010 An Bord Pleanala has granted planning permission for the redevelopment of Dublin's Tara Street Station.Iarnórd Éireann will now press ahead with its plans to build a 50-metre skyscraper in the heart of the city.Plans for the facility, which will include a 12-storey station as well as 13,000 square-metres of office space, were rejected last October, with Iarnórd Éireann told to scale back the b..... http://www.build.ie/construction_news.asp?newsid=106276 04 February 2010 Plans for a major redevelopment of Dairy Farm Shopping Centre in Dunmurry, Co Antrim have been approved.NI Environment Minister, Edwin Poots said: "This is a welcome investment boost for the area providing 200 construction jobs and 300 permanent jobs on completion. The new development will see the current centre replaced by a much-needed high-quality modern development for the area. "When comp..... http://www.build.ie/construction_news.asp?newsid=106267 04 February 2010 The company behind Waterford Crystal has announced plans to build a new manufacturing plant and visitor centre in Waterford city.WWRD Group Holdings Limited also operates the Wedgwood and Royal Doulton brands.The new Waterford Crystal Prestige Manufacturing Facility is scheduled to open in June this year and will produce approximately 40,000 handcrafted "high-end" pieces using traditional meth..... http://www.build.ie/construction_news.asp?newsid=106302 04 February 2010 There has been a dramatic intervention into proposed cost cutting at NI's main water provider.Just hours after the Utility Regulator - an independent body which regulates water and sewerage services - targeted revenue savings of £91m at the statutory body, NI Water, the Stormont Regional Development Minister Conor Murphy has stepped-in.He said last night that he had "noted the Utility Regulato..... http://www.build.ie/construction_news.asp?newsid=106300 04 February 2010