Mr Martin told the Pat Kenny show on Newstalk that the system was too slow and that there needed to be more modular homes and timber homes, rather than a fixation on conventional building methods.

Figures from the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland (SCSI) said average house rebuild costs nationally have increased by 21 per cent in the past year

The largest reduction occurred in the Non-Residential Building sector with a decrease of 6.7 per cent

One third of those surveyed said they believe young talent is emigrating from Ireland

An adult and a child have been killed in a building collapse in Lagos, Nigeria. The National Emergency Management Agency said eight people had been rescued from the debris.