Housebuilders say the sector’s five months of the shutdown could delay construction targets by five years.
It comes as industry figures say there are concerns about an exodus of skilled staff.
After months of lockdown, construction is expected to fully reopen as soon as next week. But there are worries that the restrictions may already have caused lasting damage to the industry.
Construction Industry Federation boss Tom Parlon says many Irish building workers have gone abroad, and may not return. House building resumed earlier this month.
But James Benson of the Irish Home Builders Association says the lockdown will cause major delays. He says while the industry had hoped to build 33,000 homes by 2023, this is now unlikely to happen.
Final dates for the full construction reopening are expected to be confirmed later this week.
