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EARLIER THIS WEEK, TheJournal.ie reported that the rate of construction start-ups is up by almost 40% compared to the first six months of last year.
As can be seen from the chart above, the rate of growth in companies being founded in the sector is far outpacing the sectors that are seeing the lowest levels of company foundation.
But why?
We asked Vision-net, who publish the statistics based on company registrations, what marked construction apart from other sectors.
Managing director Christine Cullen said that in large part is driven not by how vibrant the sector is, but by how far it has fallen.
“The sector is starting from a low base” she explained.
“Growth in the sector comes following a prolonged period of downturn. Over the past number years the trend was for construction companies to go under rather than for new firms to be established.”
Apart from that, Cullen picked out increased bank lending and a view that property price falls are at an end as factors driving the establishment of more construction companies – this is also driving a pick-up in the number of real estate start-ups, which is up by 31.8% overall.
Retail woes
Cullen said that the one sector that is truly struggling is wholesale and retail, where the number of new start-ups has fallen by 0.1%.
“This would appear to signal that consumers are still weary of spending and confidence has yet to return to this area of the economy.”
Consumers’ willingness to spend will not have been helped by the introduction of the property tax and the prospect of water charges later this year.
Looking to the future, however, she pointed to an increase in spending on big-ticket items like cars which may trickle down to smaller items in the retail sector.
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Here in Ireland two bitter political rivals merged just to keep other parties away from the top table. There would be no fear of any of ours resigning over principles.
@David Corrigan: to be fair .. Sinn Fein had the chance to form a government with another party and didn’t / couldn’t..
@Ciaran: Can you explain that in detail please Ciaran?
@David Corrigan: Sinn Fein chose not to form a govt with other parties. They opted to do what the do best…. sit on the fence !
@Marcus Mc Cann: where were the numbers for them to form a government
@David Corrigan: Perhaps you could explain in detail how there is any difference at all between FF/FG in the post WW2 era?
As far as I can tell it’s just branding and has been for a very long time now. I can understand why someone who was born in the 20′s might still harbour actual bitterness but everyone else needs to get a grip.
@Ciaran: How only have 34 seats you need 81 for a majority needed all the left, greens and yes one of the clowns to back them It was never going to happen.
@Brian Madden: Correct. They were 47 seats short so had to form a coalition which no way was going to happen because FF or FG never sat down with them.
@John Considine: There is no difference between the two parties. Why do you want me to explain that when we both agree on it?
@Marcus Mc Cann: they didn’t though. FF and FG boxed them out.
@David Corrigan: “Can you explain that in detail” and “can you provide evidence of that”…. The experts are here to forensically analyse everyone’s posts…. thejournal comment section.
@David Corrigan: FF and FG had 70 between them, short of a majority. SF could have made a government without either but wouldn’t sit down with most of them.
@Marcus Mc Cann: greens did and look where its left them… Pawns to the larger parties and selling their souls.. Will be obliterated in the next election
@Aidan O’ Neill: which is the mandate they were given by their voters. People are entitled to decide not to support SF. That is how democracy works.
@David Corrigan: = democracy
@Anto Curran: SF refused point blank to speak to most political parties? Are you sure about that?
@sean mcnamara: That’s not how democracy works here ——If you continue to make statements like that you could be kneecapped!
The next two weeks will be critical.
In Swedish politics.
@LiamMac2018: The Next Two Will be More Critical Here
My son tell me they’re celebrating Thanksgiving in his school tomorrow. Is this being done in all schools now? If so; when did this happen?
@Vonvonic: ah sure why not. We love importing american customs, halloween for example is a great one.
@Derek Moran: Halloween is an Irish custom
@Derek Moran: think you’ve got that a bit confused
@Derek Moran: Halloween’s origins date back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced sow-in). The Celts, who lived 2,000 years ago, mostly in the area that is now Ireland,
@Sean Treacy: In fairness, the modern incarnation is pure American.
@Vonvonic: the only American bit is the amount of plastic and sugar. The playing of tricks, the dressing up to evade spirits, the carving of lanterns and the gifting of treats are all recorded in Ireland for hundreds of years
@Vonvonic: Really!? Unless it’s a cultural awareness thing about colonising other lands I cannot imagine why Thanksgiving has any place in an Irish school.
Weird!
@Derek Moran: Darby O’Gill & the Little People, Fairytale of New York and Sean O’Wayne and Maureen Ni hEadhra in that old classic The Quiet Man, are among other cultural imports.
Magdalena Anderson’s decision is based on a constitutional practice that says a prime minister should resign if a party leaves the governing coalition.
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