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Road & Railway Construction in Ireland - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Adriana De Azevedo Adriana De Azevedo London, United Kingdom Last Updated: July 2024 SIC F42.100IE

Revenue

€1.4bn

2024

€1.4bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

€XXX.Xm

Employees

4,010

Businesses

891

Wages

€XXX.Xm

Road & Railway Construction in Ireland industry analysis

Civil engineering contractors in the road and railway construction industry build, repair and alter road and railway infrastructure. In Ireland, most of the national transport network is state-owned and operated. While Irish Rail is responsible for all commuter and freight rail services, Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) mainly manages the primary and secondary road network. So, the need for technical solutions relies on these state-owned organisations' assessment of existing asset quality and the proportion of the state budget dedicated to transport initiatives.

Trends and Insights

  • Government capital investment has aided revenue growth. Long-term PPP schemes in the road transport and motorway sector have enabled civil engineering contractors to generate growing returns.
  • Road maintenance work brings in lots of revenue. Incentivised by seemingly substandard road transport infrastructure, the DPER directed much its recent funding for national, regional and rural road projects towards maintenance schemes.
  • Dublin is a commuter hotspot. The capital has four operational rail lines and the newly proposed metro line in the development pipeline named Metrolink. Several motorways also directly serve Dublin, including the M50 and mainline inner- and outer-city routes.
  • The industry has a high level of competition. However, competition varies between civil engineering contractors that complete complex contracts and those that offer minor works packages on local transport networks.

Access hundreds of analysis and data

  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 4.4 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated €1.4bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Lobbying pressure creates civil engineer construction opportunities

  • Lobby groups, including Engineers Ireland, have continuously pressured the government to accelerate investment in transport infrastructure to meet the needs of the country’s growing population.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Road & Railway Construction in Ireland
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Short-term economic uncertainties cast doubt on the industry

  • While infrastructure development remains at the forefront of government policy, multiple short-term macroeconomic headwinds will mitigate short-term revenue prospects, especially with the high ECB interest rate, sitting at 4.25%.

Biggest companies in the Road & Railway Construction in Ireland

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue (€m)
2024
BAM Contractors Ltd
231.5
John Sisk & Son (Holdings) Ltd
161.4
Roadbridge Ltd
55.9

To view the market share and analysis for all 5 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Road & Railway Construction in Ireland
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Road maintenance, Road construction and Railway maintenance. Road maintenance is the largest segment of the Road & Railway Construction in Ireland.

Trends and Insights

Road maintenance work expands because of poor Irish road infrastructure

  • Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) manages a significant proportion of Ireland's primary and secondary road network. Local authorities oversee urban and remote sections of dual carriageways and local roads.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Companies in this industry build, repair and alter vehicular routes, including roads, runways and motorways and rail transport infrastructure, like railways, underground railways and tramways. Industry contractors also construct bridges and tunnels and provide related support and specialist services not elsewhere classified (e.g., track electrification).

What's included in this industry?

Road constructionRoad maintenanceRailway maintenanceRailway constructionSupport work

Companies

BAM Contractors LtdJohn Sisk & Son (Holdings) LtdRoadbridge Ltd

Purchase this report to view all 5 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP (PPP)ATTRITIONELECTRIFICATION

Industry Code

SIC 2007

SIC 42.1 - Road & Railway Construction in Ireland

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Government capital investment has aided revenue growth. Long-term PPP schemes in the road transport and motorway sector have enabled civil engineering contractors to generate...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Road maintenance work brings in lots of revenue. Incentivised by seemingly substandard road transport infrastructure, the DPER directed much its recent funding for national, ...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Dublin is a commuter hotspot. The capital has four operational rail lines and the newly proposed metro line in the development pipeline named Metrolink. Several motorways als...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Europe, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

The industry has a high level of competition. However, competition varies between civil engineering contractors that complete complex contracts and those that offer minor wor...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Several competitive advantages have contributed to BAM's success. The company has a highly skilled and experienced team of project managers adept at managing large, complex p...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of BAM Contractors Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of John Sisk & Son (Holdings) Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Roadbridge Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for 2 additional companies

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for BAM Contractors Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for John Sisk & Son (Holdings) Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Roadbridge Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for 2 additional companies

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

In 2024, government capital expenditure is expanding. The Irish government allocates a spending budget to state-owned enterprises or associate departments that manage civil e...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Global supply chain disruptions trample on profitability. Profitability has declined due to cash flow issues stemming from supply chain disruptions caused by the COVID-19 out...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Road & Railway Construction industry in Ireland in 2024?

The market size of the Road & Railway Construction industry in Ireland is €1.4bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Road & Railway Construction in Ireland industry in 2024?

There are 891 businesses in the Road & Railway Construction industry in Ireland, which has grown at a CAGR of 2.8 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Road & Railway Construction industry in Ireland grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Road & Railway Construction industry in Ireland has been growing at a CAGR of 4.4 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Road & Railway Construction industry in Ireland over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Road & Railway Construction industry in Ireland is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Road & Railway Construction market in Ireland?

The biggest companies operating in the Road & Railway Construction market in Ireland are BAM Contractors Ltd, John Sisk & Son (Holdings) Ltd and Roadbridge Ltd

What does the Road & Railway Construction in Ireland include?

Road construction and Road maintenance are part of the Road & Railway Construction industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Road & Railway Construction in Ireland?

The company holding the most market share in Ireland is BAM Contractors Ltd.

How competitive is the Road & Railway Construction industry in Ireland?

The level of competition is high and steady in the Road & Railway Construction industry in Ireland.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

Competitors

  • Passenger Air Transport in Ireland
  • Freight Air Transport in Ireland

Complementors

  • Electricians in Ireland
  • Architectural Activities in Ireland
  • Consultant Engineering Services in Ireland
  • Utility Project Construction in Ireland

International industries

  • Bridge & Elevated Highway Construction in the US
  • Road & Highway Construction in the US
  • Railroad Track Construction in the US
  • Bridge & Elevated Highway Construction in Canada
  • Heavy Engineering Construction in Canada

View all industries in Ireland

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in Ireland include:

  • Central Statistics Office
  • Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
  • Irish Tax & Customs

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

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