The volume of production in civil engineering increased by 14.1% year on year, according to data released by the Central Statistics Office.

This figure reflects the accelerated infrastructural development, as set out in the National Development Plan 2007-2013.

However, the volume of output in the construction sector fell by 14.9% in final quarter in 2007, compared with the same period in the previous year.

The slowdown in residential building has also continued, with production volumes in Q4 2007 down 31.4% compared with the same period in '06.

The Production in Building and Construction Index also shows that the value of production decreased by 12.4% over the same period.