Kilkenny building company named one of Ireland’s ‘Top 50’ contractors

AN innovative Kilkenny building company has been named in the Construction Industry Federation’s ‘Top 50 Construction Contractors’ for 2019.

Gaeltec Utilities Ltd ranked number 36 on the list, with a turnover of €44.9 million.

The combined turnover for Ireland’s top 50 construction companies increased by 25% to €8.39 billion last year according to the CIF’s Top 50 list.

The annual listing gives a snapshot of the overall growth in Irish construction as it delivers many largescale projects throughout Ireland and the world, attracting foreign direct investment to Ireland and exporting almost €2.5 billion in construction expertise.

According to Construction magazine’s figures, the top 50 Irish contractors reported a combined turnover of €8.39 billion in 2018, with €5.9 billion of this activity taking place in Ireland, and almost €2.5 billion resulting from exported construction services, up more than 54% from €1.62 billion in 2017.

Over the years, the construction industry federation has seen a year on year increase in the turnover for the CIF top 50 contractors. In 2015, total turnover for the CIF top 50 was €4.9 billion, jumping to €6.72 billion in 2017, and €8.39 billion in 2018.

The Irish turnover for CIF’s Top 50 has remained high, increasing 15.7% from €5.1 billion in 2017, to €5.9 billion in 2018.

Speaking at the launch of the Top 50 Contractors, CIF Regional Director Conor O’Connell said: “CIF are delighted to celebrate the success of the CIF Top 50 contractors, who generated a combined turnover of €8.39 billion. To put this in context, the volume of investment in the industry in 2018 was to the value of €26 billion.

“The CIF’s top 50 contractors generated almost €2.5 billion from services exports in 2018, an increase of almost 54% from 2017. This number is increasing year upon year, showing quality and expertise of the Irish construction industry is now sought after internationally.”

Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe said more must be done to make construction more attractive as a career choice.

The minister added: “The apprenticeships system is being expanded, offering an entry for young people into the industry. Much progress has been made over the last year and half on construction projects nationwide, as well as improvements in the construction sector. There is much more to do to ensure that Ireland has all of the infrastructure it requires as we develop further as a country. Central to this will be to ensure that the construction sector continues to advance its capabilities and capacity with the support of Government.”

Construction magazine’s Top 50 CIF Contractors list will be revealed at an exclusive event tonight (Wednesday 12^th June) in Dublin, as industry leaders from across the country gather to see how their firm ranked and celebrate a successful year of increased business despite the challenges that remain for the sector such as skills shortages, productivity, and regional development.

John Sisk and Son were named Ireland’s top construction contractor, while Mercury Engineering and BAM Contractors retained their position in second and third respectively.  

The Construction Magazine Top 50 CIF Contractors 2019: