Building company McInerney Holdings experienced a bumper first half of the year doubling pre-tax profits to €17 million.
The profit surge was driven by higher output in the Irish housing market, which is on track to record it busiest year ever and margin growth in both the Irish and British housing businesses.
McInerney said market conditions remain "particularly strong" in Ireland with the company's broad regional spread ensuring continued favourable demand for the company's housing schemes.
The company said 574 private housing units have been completed compared with 355 for the first six months of 2003. The number of units completed for the full year is expected to exceed 1,100.
The group's British operation built 141 housing units and expects to complete over 550 units in the full year.
The company gave a highly optimistic outlook for the year ahead saying it expects "another excellent full year result" while its growth strategy is "exceeding targets and is ahead of expectations".
An interim dividend of 7 cent per share was declared, representing a 41 per cent increase on last year's half-year payment.
