As we are in the midst of Q2 in 2023, the residential sector dominates all discussions regarding the Irish Construction Industry, with government surplus’s not being spent and a “worrying” reduction in planning permissions granted last year, it is quite clear that required targets for new housing stock are not being met at present. It is forecast that 27,000 residential units will complete in 2023, down from 30,000 in 2022 which are well behind the projected average of 33,000 required each year from 2021 to 2030.

It is estimated that construction output will grow by 7.2% to reach €24.8bn in 2023. How our industry grows over the next few years will depend on several key challenges such as a skills / labour shortage, material costs rising, overcoming red tape / legal challenges to developments and our integration of more sustainable construction and energy efficient methods for our building stock.

The latest SCSI Tender price index was issued in February 2023 and this shows that the national annual rate of construction inflation was 11.5% in 2022 but this is expected to moderate to between 5% - 7% in 2023.

Whilst 2022 was a year of two halves with almost 8% in the first six months which was accelerated by the war in Ukraine and knock effects on material prices although it does appear that these dramatic increases have mostly plateaued which is welcome news for all.

BMP are delighted to be striding into their 55th year of business where we continue to retain experienced staff and are still recruiting young candidates to ensure that we fulfil the high standards of performance that we set ourselves. The Irish marketplace is relatively small and it is massively important to us that we build on existing relationships with Design Teams and Clients.

Over the past 12 months we have continued our long line of delivering healthcare projects acting as ER and QS on the 96 bed Nursing Home in Dunshaughlin and also the new Cardiology Department in St. James’s Hospital both of which were delivered via Design & Build contracts. We have retained our links with Trinity College and with the OPW.

We also continue to excel in Conservation & Restoration projects for a wide array of Clients from Ambassador’s residences on Ailesbury Road to Courthouses in Portumna and magnificent properties on Parnell Square. These projects take extra special care as a Quantity Surveyor but are extremely satisfying when you see the end result.
We have carried out reinstatement valuations for numerous health & educational campuses recently which builds on our huge experience in this area.

We are delighted to continue to work with some of the leading main contractors in Ireland and assist them on many varied projects from data centres to office blocks and many conservation and restoration projects.

We hope that as a company we keep rising to all these challenges in the next 12 months.

Damien Morgan MSCSI MRICS Director
Brendan Merry & Partners
May 2023