Scheme to lure site staff home ruled out

The housing minister has ruled out introducing a scheme similar to a package offered to nurses to lure back construction workers who emigrated during the recession.

The Government is working with the Construction Industry Federation (CIF) to ensure there are enough tradespeople to keep up with increased housing demand.

However, the minister, Eoghan Murphy, has said technology now means the same number of people are not needed on building sites: “New technology is going to help us deliver the houses that we need without having the same amount of people.”