02/07/2008
Prospects In NI Housing "Not As Bad As It Seems"
While there was more bad news for the construction sector this week as it has emerged that a Co Down glass company has had to lay off more than half of its workforce - prospects may not be as bad as they appear.
Refelcting the overall downturn in the sctor - underlining the falling property market - staff at Toughglass in Kilkeel have been told that about 60 staff are to be made redundant.
Toughglass, which makes toughened glass, said the redundancies were caused by a downturn in demand.
However, Northern Ireland homeowners have been urged to "hold their nerve", by a top financial expert, despite more bleak housing market figures.
Yesterday, a Nationwide survey reported average house prices in the Province has dropped by around 18%, but the University of Ulster's Mike Smith has dismissed the building society's shocking figures as unrepresentative.
However, the gloomy reports have been compounded by stark declines in the building trade, which is suggested to be experiencing its sharpest drop in 12 years.
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors has most recently claimed that construction in the private housing sector has all but ceased, blaming planning lag times for the slump.
Mr Smith has refused to believe the current housing climate is as desperate as illustrated.
"The situation is not as bad as it has been painted - employment rose in the first three months of this year. But this is nothing like the credit slump of 1979 when hundreds of thousands of people lost their jobs," he said, quoted in the Belfast News Letter.
"For the first time in my living memory Northern Ireland is doing better than any other part of the UK - but if the Government would give some confidence to the private sector it would help things," he added.
Ian Paisley Jr last night supported calls for the abolition of stamp duty for first time buyers, on properties priced under £300k.
Mr Paisley said: "The processing cost of buying a house is in no way near the current cost of stamp duty".
See: NI House Prices Still Falling
(PR/JM)
Refelcting the overall downturn in the sctor - underlining the falling property market - staff at Toughglass in Kilkeel have been told that about 60 staff are to be made redundant.
Toughglass, which makes toughened glass, said the redundancies were caused by a downturn in demand.
However, Northern Ireland homeowners have been urged to "hold their nerve", by a top financial expert, despite more bleak housing market figures.
Yesterday, a Nationwide survey reported average house prices in the Province has dropped by around 18%, but the University of Ulster's Mike Smith has dismissed the building society's shocking figures as unrepresentative.
However, the gloomy reports have been compounded by stark declines in the building trade, which is suggested to be experiencing its sharpest drop in 12 years.
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors has most recently claimed that construction in the private housing sector has all but ceased, blaming planning lag times for the slump.
Mr Smith has refused to believe the current housing climate is as desperate as illustrated.
"The situation is not as bad as it has been painted - employment rose in the first three months of this year. But this is nothing like the credit slump of 1979 when hundreds of thousands of people lost their jobs," he said, quoted in the Belfast News Letter.
"For the first time in my living memory Northern Ireland is doing better than any other part of the UK - but if the Government would give some confidence to the private sector it would help things," he added.
Ian Paisley Jr last night supported calls for the abolition of stamp duty for first time buyers, on properties priced under £300k.
Mr Paisley said: "The processing cost of buying a house is in no way near the current cost of stamp duty".
See: NI House Prices Still Falling
(PR/JM)
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16 December 2011
Social Housing Project Boosts Building Jobs
There was a pre-Christmas boost on housing this week with the keys being handed over to residents in one of Northern Ireland's biggest social housing developments to date.
Social Housing Project Boosts Building Jobs
There was a pre-Christmas boost on housing this week with the keys being handed over to residents in one of Northern Ireland's biggest social housing developments to date.
01 April 2011
Co Down Fish Processing Jobs Sunk
It has emerged that more than 30 people have lost their jobs at a fish processing facility in Co Down. The bad news has been revealed for staff at the Euro Shellfish (Parkgate Foods Limited) plant in Portavogie. About 10 staff members are set to stay for the next three weeks while the firm is closed down.
Co Down Fish Processing Jobs Sunk
It has emerged that more than 30 people have lost their jobs at a fish processing facility in Co Down. The bad news has been revealed for staff at the Euro Shellfish (Parkgate Foods Limited) plant in Portavogie. About 10 staff members are set to stay for the next three weeks while the firm is closed down.
03 June 2013
Employment Figures Mask Weakening Labour Force - FF
Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Jobs Dara Calleary has said the new Quarterly National Household Survey reveals an underlying weakening of the labour force, with a sharp increase in under-employment and a decrease in full-time employment.
Employment Figures Mask Weakening Labour Force - FF
Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Jobs Dara Calleary has said the new Quarterly National Household Survey reveals an underlying weakening of the labour force, with a sharp increase in under-employment and a decrease in full-time employment.
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A sunny but frosty start for many. However cloud increases by midday with a few showers reaching the north coast, these mostly light but spreading inland this afternoon. Chilly. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A rather cloudy evening with scattered showers. Becoming drier through the night with some good clear spells developing and a patchy frost away from coasts. Minimum temperature 0 °C.