The group is leading the charge against US budget cuts, writesJane O'Sullivan.
As a leading player in the building materials industry both here and in the US, the level of infrastructure spending is of crucial importance for CRH.
But while the company is optimistic about infrastructure spending in the US, the outlook in the Republic is less clear.
CRH's American operations now account for nearly 60 per cent of total turnover and almost 40 per cent of operating profit, and are a key part of its business.
The group has taken a leading role in lobbying against a proposal by President Bush to cut federal highway spending for the 2003 fiscal year.
He had first proposed spending of $23.3 billion (€23.4 billion), later revised to $27.5 billion.
The issue is due to be debated by the US Senate, which is proposing spending of $31.8 billion, later this month.
But CRH is hopeful that a compromise will eventually be reached and is guessing that spending in the $29-$30 billion range for next year will be agreed.
Once the spending for the 2003 fiscal year is decided, attention will turn to the next long-term funding programme in the US.
The one upside of the Bush proposal to cut funding was that it mobilised the construction industry, heading into the negotiations, CRH's chief executive, Mr Liam O'Mahony said.
"We have some optimism about how the next six-year programme will work out," he said.
The outlook for infrastructure spending in the Republic, where the company still earns 21 per cent of its operating profits, is less certain, however.
CRH notes that EU deficit rules could pose some short-term threats to new capital projects, while pressure on the public finances has already resulted in a significant slowdown in projects under the National Development Plan.
While CRH said this would not affect its business in the short term, if it continued for another 12 months it would be serious, not just for the company but for the Republic as a whole.
