Vol. 504 No. 7
251 Mr. Hayes asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the impact which the scaffolders' dispute is having on the house building industry; the estimated fall in housing output which has resulted from this dispute; if he has had discussions with other Departments in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12628/99]
This dispute, which I understand has now ended, does not appear to have had a significant effect on housing output. In fact, new house completions in the first quarter of 1999 are 24 per cent higher than in the same period last year and in Dublin, where output had been relatively sluggish in recent years, completions are 28 per cent higher. This trend, coming after record output of 42,349 housing units in 1998, indicates that significant progress is being made in increasing housing supply which is the key element of the Government's strategy to meet increased demand and secure house price stabilisation.
