Overall construction output fell by 1% last year, while new work also dropped, despite growth in the private housing, private industrial and commercial sectors.
The repair and maintenance business was unchanged, with increases in public housing and public non-housing being offset by a decrease in private housing.
New private housing work was 4% higher, while public housing experienced a 7% drop.
Meanwhile, new construction orders in the 12 months to January 2006 rose by 8%, compared with 2004. Private housing orders grew by 7%, while public housing and housing association instructions jumped by 13%.
