{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/619faf1af8d4dc0013bca20f/6644b10bb14f3000123e2f84?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"What's behind the recent surge in housing construction here?","description":"<p>Some 18,000 housing commencements were recorded in April. It’s a huge number and well up on the normal run rate. What was behind that spike?</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>And do we have enough construction workers to build these homes and get to the magic 50,000 new homes a year target that we’re told we need to hit in order to meet demand?</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>On this week’s episode of Inside Business, host Ciarán Hancock is joined on the line by director general of the Construction Industry Federation Hubert Fitzpatrick to discuss these issues.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Also on the podcast, this week saw Intel’s huge manufacturing campus in Leixlip, Co Kildare make global headlines with reports of an €11 billion refinancing and the possibility of investment in a new plant there. Local TD James Lawless of Fianna Fail joined us in studio to go through the details. </p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Produced by John Casey with JJ Vernon on sound.</p>","author_name":"Inside Business with Ciaran Hancock"}