Vol. 486 No. 3
75 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the information, if any, he has to support or deny recent media reports of a survey by a firm of quantity surveyors regarding a dramatic increase in builders' profit margins over the past five years; his views on the fact that these margins have quadrupled and contributed to soaring house prices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22026/97]
I have seen a press report along the lines referred to. By reason of its commercial sensitivity, definitive information is not available to my Department in relation to builders' margins. Moreover, because of wide variations in circumstances particularly in relation to the timing of land acquisition, holding charges and so forth, it would be difficult to draw valid general conclusions from specific cases. However, it is generally true that margins tend to increase in periods of high demand and to weaken when demand is relatively low.
