Surveyors’ job growth prediction optimistic

Your April 29 edition included the article headlined "Lack of graduates entering construction ‘threatening sector’s recovery’."

As a fellow of the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland and a registered surveyor, I wish to dissociate myself from the society’s interpretation of its survey.

If 1,100 new surveying jobs are anticipated between now and 2018 (which would suggest an increase in construction jobs, over the same period, of between 50,000 to 75,000), any slack will be taken up by the thousands of Irish in the industry, many of whom are more skilled than I and, who, like myself, were forced to emigrate in the wake of the Celtic Tiger’s collapse.

Any remaining shortfall would be taken up by qualified surveyors from other jurisdictions, as was the case in the heady years, when up to 90,000 units per annum were being produced.

The same holds true for other skills in the sector. It is the job of government to ensure that an excess of tax breaks, which resulted in disaster for the industry five years ago, does not recur.

Alarm bells should already be ringing as regards house price increases in the Pale.

Tom Wren, BCL LLM FSCSI MCIArb

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