ABSTRACT
The National Economic Social Council (2004)
reported that additional housing output had been
predicted for the next decade with the balance
between supply and demand being achieved in the
coming years but it was not clear when the annual
housing market output would begin to decline
(NESC, 2004). Forward to 2009 and this decline
is clearly evident as a sharp downward adjustment
has been recorded since the height of the Irish
construction industry boom in 2006. According
to the Irish government (NSRF, 2007) a part of
the National Strategic Reference Framework is the
Commission drafted Community Strategy Guide-
lines (CSG)whichpurpose is to define keypriorities
for EURegional Policy over the period 2007-2013.
Such priorities are to promote and encourage inno-
vation, the knowledge economy, research and ICT
(NSRF, 2007). The significance of these priorities
is now substantial with the highest unemployment
figures now reported in 11 years. This downward
adjustment has made traditional Irish based com-
panies move to selling products and services inter-
nationally. The need for Irish companies to bemore
effective and efficient with eBusiness technologies
