Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 July 2026
304. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the number of persons employed in Ireland in high tech construction; the way in which that sector is defined; and the contribution that this sector makes to the Irish economy. [51183/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraOfficial statistics on employment in Ireland are published by the Central Statistics Office(CSO) in the quarterly Labour Force Survey and presented including by NACE classification of economic sectors. I understand that there is no definition of high tech construction under the NACE classification. However at the broad sector level according to the most recent survey in Q1 2026, over 195,600 people were employed in the construction sector representing 7% of total employment. In addition, the latest full year data from Ireland’s national accounts from the CSO shows the construction sector contributed Gross Value Added of €15.7 billion in 2025 up from €14.7 billion in 2024.
My Department also carries out annual surveys of client companies supported by the Enterprise Agencies (IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and Údarás na Gaeltachta) on their employment and economic impact. According, to the most recent data in total 203 client companies are engaged in exporting construction products. These companies employed 24,959 people in 2025 and they had €6.033 billion in exports in 2024 (latest data available).
A strong, high-performing construction sector is vital. The wider adoption of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) has the potential to deliver new housing more efficiently, more sustainably and with enhanced affordability at scale. My Department is working closely across Government and with other relevant stakeholders, to progress work to promote the adoption of MMC, including through the implementation mechanisms under Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025-2030, as well as directly with the sector through the business development and enterprise innovation programmes administered by Enterprise Ireland to help drive increased levels of innovation and productivity in the sector.
