The volume of output in building and construction in Ireland fell by 4.2 per cent in the third quarter compared with the previous three-month period, according to the Central Statistics Office .

The latest numbers for the Republic’s ailing construction sector reflected decreases of 5.3 per cent, 2.4 per cent and 1.9 per cent respectively in the volume of residential building, civil engineering and non-residential building.

On an annual basis, the volume of output in building and construction fell by 10.8 per cent in the third quarter, compared with an annual decline of -1.4 per cent in the previous quarter.

The change in the value of production for building and construction during the quarter was -2.1 per cent and -8.5 per cent annually.

The CSO said annual fall in the volume of output reflected year-on-year declines of 20.0 per cent and 16.3 per cent respectively in residential building work and non- residential building work.