CIF: More investment needed in infrastructure

The Construction Industry Federation is urging the Government to continue it's investment in public infrastructure.

In it's pre-Budget submission, it is also proposing the introduction of a short-term "PRSI holiday" for employers', a reform of the planning system and the abolition of residential stamp duty.

The Federation says more than 200,000 jobs have been lost in the sector over the last two years and the Government, in next month's Budget, needs to make the sector a key part of economic recovery.

Director General of the CIF Tom Parlon said capital projects will create jobs and revenue.

Mr Parlon said: "We have the capacity immediately to create jobs; and we have the capacity to stall the job losses if there's an investment in the Exchequer.

"Likewise we're saying that in the capital programme the €7bn that's being spent this year is on individual programmes, but we have little or no projects starting for next year and that's something the government has to correct."