Construction industry meets government officials at CIF conference
Karen Kenny of the Department of Housing speaks on a panel discussion at the CIF South East conference alongside Regina Mangan of Liberty Blue. Photo: Hugh Dooley
The Construction Industry Federation held its South East Construction Conference at the Tower Hotel last week, bringing builders and legislators together to discuss the industry in Waterford.
Close to 100 executives and business owners attended the event, sponsored by Deloitte, and the Tipperary Educational Training Board.
Leonard Daly, the Chairman for the South East Branch of the CIF opened the event, saying that the demand on the construction industry is rising every year, with predicted population growth in Ireland increasing the need for new homes in the region.
"The population increases mean that the South East alone must deliver an additional 38,000 units."
Regina Mangan, Managing Director at Liberty Blue Estate Agents, presented an analysis of the housing market in the South East, highlighting that the supply levels of second-hand homes is 60% less before the pandemic. Ms Mangan presented the results of a poll of Liberty Blue customers to give an insight into the people searching the housing market at present.
She emphasised the importance of SETU in driving the housing market in the South East.
"How do we increase affordability and prices for new homes in the South East?" she asked.
"We have a big problem in the South East in relation to our university," she explained, "We have a university, which is not meeting its potential. A third of Leaving Cert students are leaving the region."
She said that a strong SETU would bring higher wages to the region, through attracting multinational business to the region.
Ms Mangan said the answer to increasing the affordability of new houses was a "rock star in South East Technological University, not a Mickey Mouse university. A proper university that will stop the brain drain from the South East."
Tracey James, Health Check Nurse Manager at the Irish Heart Foundation, gave a presentation on cardiovascular disease and the risks for those in the industry.
She urged people in the industry to "be aware of the risks of high blood pressure, it's called the silent killer," she said.
