For Mr Bernard O'Connell, managing director of the Sisk construction group, the Budget was "very positive".
He welcomed a new allocation of €550 million for roads, public transport, housing, education and health infrastructure, but said greater expenditure could have been absorbed by the sector.
The investment next year would be 10 per cent greater than in 2001 although construction business inflation running at between 5 and 7 per cent.
"Quite happily the industry could accommodate the same again if not more," he said.
Mr O'Connell also welcomed the restoration of interest relief on rental property stating that it would be a "great stimulus" to the home-building sector.
In addition, he welcomed changes to the stamp duty system to encourage investors.
He said the reduction in employers' PRSI will go "some way" to redressing the abolition last year of the cap on income limits for the employers' portion of the insurance.
But for all that, he said the one-point rise in VAT would drive up costs and said the move towards current-year payment of corporation tax would create costs for small and medium-sized firms.
"In general terms, it's time for us to be positive," he said.
