Daily updated construction news for Ireland from http://www.build.ie http://www.build.co.uk/construction_news.asp 11/03/2010 : 21:46:20 The director of Irish building materials firm, Kingspan has sold almost his entire remaining stake in the company, a newspaper report has said.Brendan Murtagh told the High Court last month he is "insolvent", said the Irish Independent.According to documents filed with the court, Mr Murtagh - who founded the Cavan-based company with his brother, Eugene - has sold the shares for €24.6m, pledgin..... http://www.build.ie/construction_news.asp?newsid=108246 11 March 2010 A NI firm is celebrating after a project to build flagship Primark store it was involved in scooped a prestigious design award.The new Bristol store has been awarded with The Land Securities Store Design of the Year at the recent 2010 Retail award.Magherafelt-based electrical contractor Premier Electrics provided a 25-man team to undertake the project over a six-month period, ensuring that it ..... http://www.build.ie/construction_news.asp?newsid=108203 11 March 2010 The role of local aeronautical apprentices has been praised.During a visit to Bombardier Aerospace, the Stormont Employment and Learning Minister, Sir Reg Empey was updated on the progress of the company's new CSeries aircraft programme, for which Belfast is designing and manufacturing the wing. He was shown the demonstrator wing the company has assembled in order to test the new advanced comp..... http://www.build.ie/construction_news.asp?newsid=108229 11 March 2010 UK fashion retailer Republic is ready to enter the Northern Ireland retail market, with construction on a new a 10,000 sq ft store underway.Much needed jobs in the building sector have been created as the two-level store is currently being built on Royal Avenue in Belfast, in a space previously used by music retailer Zavvi, before it was hit by administration last year."We aim to establish a r..... http://www.build.ie/construction_news.asp?newsid=108212 11 March 2010 NI Environment Minister Edwin Poots has announced planning approval to extend Northern Ireland's famous salt mine ensuring enough supply to grit our roads for the next three decades.The major application will extend the mine by almost 279 hectares, the equivalent of 340 international football pitches, and will result in 10 new jobs. Current salt reserves are estimated to run out in 2012 and th..... http://www.build.ie/construction_news.asp?newsid=108213 11 March 2010 NI Enterprise Minster Arlene Foster has called on those with influence to join with Government in meeting the targets and ambitious goals for the province's energy future.Speaking at the Energy Institute annual dinner in the Culloden Hotel, the Minister said: "I greatly appreciate the contribution made by Energy Institute members in helping to shape the way ahead, and now encourage them to rise ..... http://www.build.ie/construction_news.asp?newsid=108241 11 March 2010 A Belfast company has been fined a total of £200 plus costs of £70 solicitors costs and £27 summons costs at Laganside Magistrates' Court for a planning offence.Carmichaels (NI) Limited of Bedford Street, Belfast was found guilty of having unauthorised awnings with advertisements on a Listed Building at 21 Bedford Street, Belfast.Planning Service brought the charge under Article 44 of the Plan..... http://www.build.ie/construction_news.asp?newsid=108205 11 March 2010 Extra cash has 'flown-in' to an iconic wildfowl facility in Co Down.NI Environment Minister Edwin Poots visited the Wildfowl and Wetlands Centre at Castle Espie to inspect the restoration project that his Department has co-funded.Mr Poots praised staff at the complex for a unique and innovative approach, which has "seamlessly blended the local history and natural assets of the area with the te..... http://www.build.ie/construction_news.asp?newsid=108204 11 March 2010 NI Roads Minister Conor Murphy has visited the completed road schemes at A4 Annaghilla and A5 Tullyvar roads, which are part of a £134million package of major road improvements in the Dungannon area.The Minister, who made a site visit to the two road improvement schemes near Ballygawley to mark completion of the realignment works, said: "The schemes which have taken just over two years to comple..... http://www.build.ie/construction_news.asp?newsid=108206 11 March 2010 NI Finance Minister Sammy Wilson has underlined the need for the Stormont Executive to make economic growth its top priority.Projecting ahead to better economic times - where the construction sector can begin to recover from the recession - he told an All Island Infrastructure Investment Conference in Dundalk that he believed the Executive had not done enough to advance long-term economic growth..... http://www.build.ie/construction_news.asp?newsid=108217 11 March 2010 The building trade will be among the first to be benefit from a large retail and leisure development being planned for a Co Tyrone border town.The investment for Strabane includes a Local Employment Partnership agreement that stipulates that material and workers must be sourced locally and that up to a quarter of the workforce must also be made up of local apprentices.It has been reported that..... http://www.build.ie/construction_news.asp?newsid=108181 10 March 2010 The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) has today unveiled a five-year strategic plan with a mission of transforming Ireland into a society based on sustainable energy structures, technologies and practices.The plan also aims to make Ireland a "recognised global leader in sustainable energy".Over the course of the five-year strategy, SEAI claims the plan will result in savings of a..... http://www.build.ie/construction_news.asp?newsid=108191 10 March 2010 There has been a call to 'build' on opportunities for the local construction industry.SDLP East Derry candidate Cllr Thomas Conway said a Stormont Executive-led effort to boost the economy in general and the building trades in particular should start at once.He said: "Sinn Fein and the DUP are telling us their two-year stand-off is over. "Perhaps now they might pay attention to the recession..... http://www.build.ie/construction_news.asp?newsid=108152 10 March 2010 A planned road construction project in Co Antrim will be a "triumph for co-operation politics", according to a local politician.With employment on the building project looming, the SDLP's East Antrim candidate Justin McCamphill has said the construction of a dual carriageway from Larne to the M2 outside Belfast will be an example of the kind of co-operation politics that the SDLP has practised a..... http://www.build.ie/construction_news.asp?newsid=108159 10 March 2010 One of Europe's leading clay brick manufacturers, Wienerberger, is to open its first dedicated sales and distribution centre in Ireland this month.In line with the company's other European centres, the new operation will also incorporate a state-of-the-art showroom, to be located in Newtownabbey, Co AntrimCommenting on the news, Wienerberger UK MD Harald Schwarzmayr said: "Although the Irish m..... http://www.build.ie/construction_news.asp?newsid=108147 10 March 2010 NI Education Minister, Caitríona Ruane, has cut the first sod on the site of a new school building for Bunscoil Bheanna Boirche in Castlewellan.The first phase of the new building, which can accommodate up to 85 pupils, is due to be completed by September.Speaking at the ceremony, the Minister said: "I am pleased to be invited here to mark a new chapter in Irish-medium education in Castlewella..... http://www.build.ie/construction_news.asp?newsid=108124 10 March 2010 A Co Armagh estate agent has been fined £300 at Craigavon Magistrates" Court, for misrepresenting properties offered for sale in Lurgan.In a case brought by the Trading Standards Service of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, Williams Estate Agents (N.I.) Ltd was convicted of one charge brought under the Property Misdescriptions Act 1991, and acquitted on another similar charge. ..... http://www.build.ie/construction_news.asp?newsid=108123 10 March 2010 Irish Taoiseach Brian Cowen has rejected any suggestions that the Attorney General is delaying the publication of the report into the Dublin Docklands Development Authority. Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny asked Mr Cowen when the report would be published. Mr Kenny also asked if the Attorney General needed more staff to deal with a backlog of legal issues and if this was the reason for the delay i..... http://www.build.ie/construction_news.asp?newsid=108110 10 March 2010 The Stormont Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster has announced two investments, totalling £39million, aimed at benefiting local dairy processing industry.The projects were announced as the Minister visited Dale Farm's facility at Dunmanbridge near Cookstown, where she officially opened a £5million state of the art cheddar cheese making facility.A £36million investment by Dale Farm, supported by ..... http://www.build.ie/construction_news.asp?newsid=108167 10 March 2010 A pub in Limerick, dubbed the cheapest in Ireland, has gone on to the market.Smithy's Door pub in Limerick City is available for €149,999, according to the Irish Independent.Estate agent Pat Kearney of Rooneys (Limerick) said he is hopeful of getting that price for the freehold property, with the vendor being happy to offer it for a relatively small sum.The pub is located at the junction of ..... http://www.build.ie/construction_news.asp?newsid=108174 10 March 2010