2003 Final scrip dividend

CRH PLC
28 April 2004

CRH plc ('the Company')

28th April 2004


2003 FINAL DIVIDEND - SCRIP ALTERNATIVE

CRH plc announces that, under the Company's Scrip Dividend Scheme, 34.91% of its
Ordinary Shareholders elected to receive shares in lieu of cash in respect of
all or part of their Final Dividend for 2003 to be paid on 10th May 2004.

As a result, a total of 1,887,001 Ordinary Shares of €0.32 each have been
allotted. An application will be made for admission of the New Shares to the
Official Lists of the Irish Stock Exchange and the U.K. Listing Authority and to
trading on the London Stock Exchange's market for listed securities. Dealing in
the New Shares is expected to commence on Monday, 10th May 2004.



Enquiries:

Contact

Neil Colgan

Assistant Company Secretary

Tel: [phone]



                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange