Irish construction materials and labour costs 'climb amid global shortages'

"In particular, reinforcing bars, structural steel, aluminium curtain walling-panelling and copper have all seen substantial increases, ranging from 34.3% for reinforcing bars to 7.5% for copper," according to the report.  

Labour shortages long plagued the construction industry and now materials are rising too. File picture. 

Global shortages of almost every building material have driven raw material costs for Irish construction up by 13.4% and labour costs by 4%, with more price increases to come, a major survey has warned. 

The Turner & Townsend survey also found that the Covid-19 restrictions will be long lasting for construction in the Republic and the industry will face challenges for some time to come.