ACTIVITY IN THE construction sector slowed for the 16th-consecutive quarter between April and June this year.

In the three-month period, the volume of output in building and construction was 6.4 per cent lower than in the previous quarter.

It was 23.4 per cent lower when compared with the corresponding period of 2010.

According to new figures released by the Central Statistics Office, there were declines in output in civil engineering, residential building and non-residential building between April and June.

In terms of value, there was a 7.2 per cent drop for all building and construction.

In the year, the most notable decline was reported in engineering which saw a 39.4 per cent fall in output. Residential building noted a 22.4 per cent decline in output, while non-residential building work decreased by 4.7 per cent.

The Irish construction sector has been in decline since 2007.

Comparing the figures to those in the EU, the fall in the construction sector was greater than the European average. However, there were greater declines noted in Greece, Slovenia and Spain.

Poland, Lithuania and Estonia all saw increases in the volume of output in the industry.