2080 new builds in Limerick in 2008
The number of new buildings recorded in Limerick City and County in 2008 was 2,080, according to new figures released by GeoDirectory.
GeoDirectory was jointly established by An Post and Ordnance Survey Ireland to create and manage Ireland’s only complete database of commercial and residential buildings.
The figures were recorded 5,600 An Post delivery staff working with experts from OSi.
GeoDirectory identified 1,725 new residential buildings, 248 commercial buildings and 95 dual purpose buildings with both residential and commercial space in Limerick City and County during 2008.
The figures show a decrease of 47% on 2007 when 3,896 new buildings were identified.
These new additions bring the total number of buildings in Limerick City and County to 83,351.
Food and drink sector to increase exports
The Irish food, drink and horticulture sector has the potential to boost exports by more than 20pc to reach 10 billion euro by 2011 after last year saw a 6.5pc slump in food exports, according to Bord Bia’s chairman Dan Browne.
Speaking at the launch of Bord Bia’s Statement of Strategy 2009 – 2011 in Dublin recently Mr. Browne said that the relative stability of food markets during the downturn, combined with the relentless rise in the world’s population, growing at the rate of almost 80 million people a year, and shifting dietary habits will continue to underpin global demand for food.
Exports declined during the year by 6.5pc to E8.16 billion. (Bizworld)
Irish consumers pay up to over 50 per cent more
ACCORDING to reports in national media this week, Irish consumers are paying a mark-up of 51 per cent on goods such as clothing, houseware and electrical goods compared to UK prices, according to a new survey by the National Consumer Agency.
The margin on a basket of 45 non-grocery items purchased in 11 stores is even greater than the 30 per cent price difference for grocery prices on both sides of the Border recorded in an NCA survey published last year. The euro is currently worth about 7 per cent less than sterling. The biggest mark-up found by NCA officials was on a Laura Ashley cushion costing £28 sterling but 49 euro in the Republic. In Argos a 32” Hitachi television costs £372 but is marked up to 586 euro. A patio set is marked up from £717 to 1,052 euro here. (Bizworld)
