Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 14 Feb 1995

Vol. 449 No. 1

Written Answers. - Imported Building Materials.

James Leonard

Question:

101 Mr. Leonard asked the Minister for the Environment the percentage of building materials which were imported in the last accounting period for which figures are available; and the percentage of these imports which could have been produced in this country. [3125/95]

Minister for the Environment (Mr. Howlin)

The most recent relevant data is contained in the report, by the former Environmental Research Unit of my Department, Foreign Trade in Construction Related Materials, 1992— a copy of which has been placed in the Oireachtas Library. The estimated total value of construction related products imported in 1992 was £578 million, which then represented 48 per cent of the estimated total market for building products (£1,200 million).

However, imports include raw materials and intermediate products to be used in the manufacture in Ireland of building products. These commodities have to be imported and do not readily lend themselves to manufacture domestically.I am advised that, when allowance is made for this element of imports (estimated at £137 million), import penetration of the home market is estimated at a net £441 million (or 37 per cent).

My Department has no information on the percentage of imports which could be manufactured in this country. However, I would draw the Deputy's attention to Chapter 9 of a report of An Bord Tráchtála entitledMarket Opportunities: Building Products: Ireland (published June 1993). A copy of this report has also been placed in the Oireachtas Library.