Building and construction increased by 11.2 percent in the year to June - according to the latest Building and Construction Index.

The Central Statistics Office says the volume of building was 1.7 percent higher in the second quarter of this year when compared to the first three months.

The figures must be taken in context however; the volume of construction in the state has still fallen by over 85% since the height of the boom in 2006.

Nevertheless, the Construction Industry Federation is welcoming the modest increase.

CEO Tom Parlon says there is a concensus that the industry had hit its bottom and is about to see a recovery.