Building group McInerney Holdings enters 2005 in confident mood as the demand for houses among first-time buyers shows no sign of slowing.
In a trading statement issues to the stock exchange today, McInerney's said 2004 had been a very strong year. Private house completions in Ireland increased from 969 in 2003 to 1,101 in 2004.
Managing director Mr Barry O'Connor said: "In Ireland, the demand for housing from our target market of first-time buyers continued to be strong. We are currently well positioned as we enter 2005."
McInerneys is now operating on 31 private housing sites in Ireland compared to 30 sites a year ago. A strong performance was recorded in the United Kingdom, with house completions increasing to 500 in 2004 from 447 in 2003. The UK land bank now stands at over 1,800 plots compared to about 1,200 at end 2003.
The group's commercial division, Hillview Securities, recorded a solid performance in 2004 completing 89,000 square feet of industrial units and selling 65,000 square feet of retail space at Eyre Square, Galway. The company completed 132,000 square feet of industrial units in 2003.