Housing market continues to grow

BANK of IRELAND says the Irish housing market will continue to grow strongly this year, with mortgage lending set to rise by €2 billion to €19 billion for this year alone.

The bank’s quarterly property review says demand is explained by the strong employment growth and other key factors.

In the year to March 2005 the number of jobs generated in the economy rose by 72,0000 and a further 52,000 jobs will be added to the jobs pool in the current year.