Irish Contruction News December 2021

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C a n Ho u s in g f o r A ll d e liv e r f o r e v e r y o n e ?

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irishconstructionnews

H e a l t2021 h & S afe t y • S us ta ina b ilit y • C as e S tud ie s • Clim ate A c tio n P la n December

THE ONE THING WE CAN’T BUILD WITHOUT? OUR CLIENTS’ TRUST. We earn it through being responsive, collaborative and passionate in all that we do.

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NEWS

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5 Industry welcomes Climate Action Plan 7 BHSL acquires Glan Agua and targets €100m+ sales in 2022 7 Updated OSI GeoHive provides unprecedented access to map data about Ireland 9 Call 4 of Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund launched 9 Government announce interim measures to address construction materials price inflation on public works projects 11 Ireland’s leading construction news website constructionnews.ie gets digital upgrade 11 Towards Net Zero Ireland Construction Awards 13 O’Callaghan Properties submits planning application for €350m Cork South Docks 13 Construction begins on €50m Bishop’s Quay Limerick development creating 100 jobs 14 Appointments: Paul Brown to succeed Steve Bowcott as Sisk CEO

M A IN F E AT UR E

16 “We need to have a conversation about new builds and building in suburbia ” – Hugh Wallace, Director, Douglas Wallace Associates 18 Substantial legislative changes will be needed for Housing for All to work – Hugh McCann, Development Manager, Bluemont 21 Can Housing for All deliver social housing solutions? – Sharon Cosgrove, CEO, Oaklee Housing

CA SE STUDIE S

16 M A IN F E AT UR E

25 Cross-sector collaboration delivers high-spec office refurbishment for Focus Ireland 32 MJ Clarke completes refurbishment works at Royal Victoria Eye & Ear Hospital

OPINION

36 The effect of not responding to a claim for payment under a construction contract and the consequences – Henry Hathaway, Henry Hathaway Solicitors

SEC TOR F OCUS

25 CA SE STUDIE S

38 Off-site specialist Vision Built triples revenue in 2021 – Brian Kennedy, Managing Director, Vision Built 42 Creating Safer Sites – Joe O’Dwyer, Health & Safety Manager, Collen Construction 45 Taking the long term view on clients’ M&E needs – Riverside Mechanical Group 46 BMD & Co building its team as it unveils exciting plans for the future – Mike Walsh, Managing Director, BMD & Co 48 Setting up an on-site health screening programme for workers is easy and could save lives – Brian Daly, CEO, CWHT 51 Data centre expert Ethos announces creation of 150 new jobs 51 KSN launches sustainability consultancy KSN Horizon 53 John Paul Construction gives its support to two crucial Irish charities

S U S TA I N A B I L I T Y

54 IGBC publishes preliminary recommendations to decarbonise built environment 55 Can Ireland warm homes and cook dinners with hydrogen?

55 Bord na Móna to develop midlands large-scale renewable energy park 57 RIAI sets climate challenge for architects 57 Report identifies key skills required to deliver Climate Action Plan targets

38 SEC TOR F OCUS

PR ODUC T S A ND SER V ICE S 58 All the latest products and services news

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EDITORI AL

From the e d i t o r E V ER YONE NEEDS A PL A N

O PUBLISHER Foundation Media Ltd 1 Northumberland Place, Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin.

Tel: +353 (0)1 677 3157 EDITOR Robbie Cousins robbie@foundationmedia.ie DESIGN Joanne Birmingham CONTRIBUTORS Barry McCall, Mimi Murray, Henry Hathaway, Joe O’Dwyer PRINTER WG Baird Ltd ADVERTISING SALES Joe Connolly joe@foundationmedai.ie Tel: +353 (0)86 396 6158 ADVERTISING AND PROMOTIONAL OPPORTUNITIES To advertise in Irish Construction News or on www.constructionnews.ie, or to request a ratecard or details of promotional opportunities, contact Joe Connolly at joe@foundationmedia.ie CONNECT WITH US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Twitter: @constructionnews.ie Linkedin: Constructionnews.ie Facebook: Constructionnews.ie SIGN UP FOR OUR E-NEWSLET TER To get the latest news, articles and offers related to the Irish construction industry to your inbox sign up to our free e-newsletter at www.constructionnews.ie While every effort has been made to ensure that the information contained in this publication is correct, the publisher cannot not accept responsibility for any errors, omissions or discrepancies. Views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher.

The contents of this publication are copyright. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means mechanical, electronic (including photocopying) or digital without the prior consent of the publisher.

ver the past few months, the government’s much anticipated plans, Housing for All, renewed National Development Plan 2021-2030 (NDP), and Climate Action Plan 2021 were launched. Intended to reshape Irish society over the next 10 years and beyond, the plans’ ambitious targets are backed up with substantial annual funding allocations.

The construction sector has broadly welcomed the three plans, but there is concern about whether the necessary planning reforms and processes to facilitate more efficient infrastructure and housing delivery can be implemented.

There is also the not so small problem of having the workforce to deliver the plans’ objectives. The €20bn+ Housing for All plan has an estimated new workforce requirement of 27,500 workers to meet the required annual output levels. The €165bn NDP will require 80,000 construction workers a year to deliver on its ambitions, and the Climate Action Plan will need 17,000 workers to complete the retrofit and heat pump installation element of the plan alone.

In this issue of Irish Construction News, we take a close look at Housing for All and get the views of three people whose work will be very much impacted by the housing delivery plan. Architect Hugh Wallace, Cluid Housing CEO Sharon Cosgrove and Bluemont Development Manager Hugh McCann discuss what they see as the plan’s key points and what they would like the plan to deliver in their respective fields.

In Sector Focus, we visit Vision Built’s latest manufacturing facility in Tubbercurry and speak to the offsite specialist’s managing director Brian Kennedy about its impressive performance over the past two years and how Vision Built plans to continue innovating to meet the needs of its rapidly expanding client base.

Mike Walsh, Managing Director, BMD & Co, discusses how the Cork-headquartered mechanical and process engineer’s recent expansion into the Dublin market has contributed to a 40% jump in its turnover this year and the many opportunities that BMD has to offer ambitious and driven construction professionals and tradespeople

in the years ahead.

Joe O’Dwyer, Health & Safety Manager, Collen Construction, outlines how Collen’s new ‘Creating Safer Sites’ programme aims to transform safety thinking in the company.

In Opinion, solicitor Henry Hathaway writes that construction companies need to revisit their payment procedures as payers now must respond to payee payment claims, or amounts claimed could become payable in full regardless of the actual application value.

In Case Studies, we feature the refurbishment of Focus Ireland’s Dublin head offices, which brought together over 50 construction professionals and specialist contractors working on a pro-bono basis to deliver one of the country’s most sustainable, lowest carbon emission, creative and hi-spec office fit-outs.

Elsewhere, we have all the latest construction and engineering news and analysis.

We are very excited to have recently launched our newly upgraded website constructionnews.ie, which, amongst other exciting content, features comprehensive profiles with videos of the country’s Top 40 building contractors and Top 20 engineering contractors. We are also delighted to be media partners with the ‘Towards Net Zero Ireland Construction Awards’, which will recognise Irish pioneers and leaders in net-zero construction. Read more about the awards in our News section.

Please take a moment to scan the QR code below and sign up for our free e-newsletter. And, if there are any issues or stories you would like to see featured in Irish Construction News, email me at robbie@foundationmedia.ie Wishing you a Happy Christmas and prosperous 2022!

Regards Robbie Cousins

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irishconstructionnews 3 December 2021

2021 Protecting a nd the environmenhancing future gene ent for rations We believe sus tainable goa ls can ser improvement . We are deligh ve as a catalyst for a con St James’s Ho tinuous cycle ted to be par spi of t of the team This is the larg tal to improve energy effi ciency and cut working on est energy per look forward carbon emissi formance con to helping St ons. tract in Irish James’s Hospit healthcare and al achieve its we environmenta l targets.

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over we continued to work with Throughout the pandemic, We ies. pan com s nce life-scie 90% of the world’s leading lity a new 48,000-sq-metre faci worked on WuXi Dundalk, est larg ld’s wor the be will it r and upon completion this yea t. plan g turin single-use biologics manufac

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In d u s t r y w e lc o m e s c lim a t e a c t io n p la n T

he publication of the Climate Action Plan 2021 has been broadly welcomed by the construction, engineering and renewable energy sectors.

The Government has published the much anticipated Climate Action Plan 2021, a sectoral roadmap for meeting Ireland’s 2050 national climate objective, required to be prepared under the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Acts 2015 to 2021. The plan lists the actions required to deliver on Ireland’s climate targets, including a commitment to reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions by 51% by 2030. It commits Ireland to a legally binding target of netzero greenhouse gas emissions no later than 2050.

Key targets within the Plan include: • The enabling of 500,000 daily sustainable travel journeys by 2030 through major public transport projects such as BusConnects and Connecting Ireland; the expansion of rail services and cycling and walking infrastructure.

• The increase in the proportion of renewable electricity to up to 80% by 2030, including an increased target of up to 5GW of offshore wind.

• Delivery of three new transmission grid connections or interconnectors to Northern Ireland, Great Britain, and the EU. • Scaled-up delivery of retrofitting, including the opening of three more training centres for retrofit upskilling and a programme to decarbonise the heating and cooling sectors by 2050.

• An increase in the number of EVs to circa 1 million by 2030.

• Planned publication of a whole-of-Government Circular Economy Strategy, the enactment of the Circular Economy Bill 2021, and the development of a Bioeconomy Action Plan.

• Implementing the National Planning Framework to promote compact and sustainable housing, growth and development.

• Promotion of the digital transformation, sustainable remote working practices and the roll-out of the National Broadband Plan.

• A Climate Action Delivery Board to be overseen by the Department of the Taoiseach to monitor delivery.

Professor Orla Feely, President, Engineers Ireland, said that climate breakdown and biodiversity collapse are the most serious issues of our time.

“Engineers Ireland strongly advocates for the principles and practices of sustainable development and welcomes the ambition of the Climate Action Plan,” Professor Feely commented. “The plan,

Professor Orla Feely, President, Engineers Ireland. which will provide the pathway for Ireland to meet its international and EU climate commitments, contains ambitious and positive opportunities for change which will improve the quality of life of our citizens through increased investments and initiatives.”

The Irish Green Building Council (IGBC) has welcomed the inclusion of whole life carbon targets for construction in the Climate Action Plan.

According to an initial assessment of carbon emissions associated with construction and operation of the Irish built environment published by the IGBC, embodied emissions account for 11% of Ireland’s emissions, the same as residential heating. To date, these emissions associated with the production and transportation of construction materials, and with constructing buildings and infrastructure have been largely ignored.

Pat Barry, CEO, IGBC, said: “Our industry is both resource and carbon intensive. We cannot reach our climate targets if we don’t address embodied emissions in construction. We are hence pleased with the commitments to carbon proof all major investments and to decrease embodied carbon in building materials contained in the plan.”

For the first time, the Climate Action Plan 2021 includes a commitment to introduce life-cycle assessment requirements for buildings and construction products and processes, as well as a commitment to develop a certification for recycled construction products. It also mandates the inclusion of green criteria in all public procurement from 2023 to ensure that what is built is consistent with Ireland’s climate ambition.

The IGBC welcomed the national retrofit programme presented in the plan and the introduction of micro and small-scale generation schemes, alongside the review of the current planning exemptions relating to solar panels.

Susan McGarry, Managing Director, Ecocem Ireland, said that the plan is the most progressive undertaking presented by the government in addressing Ireland’s role and the impact of the long term climate crisis.

“The action to reduce carbon emissions by 51% by 2030 is bold, admirable, and should be achievable for every aspect of industry. A sectoral breakdown of industry emissions shows that manufacturing combustion and process emissions from the mineral industry – and primarily cement manufacturing – account for the most significant share of emissions in this sector, and we are pleased that the government has correctly identified the extremely carbon-intensive nature of the production of clinker to make cement.”

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B HS L A C QUIR E S GL A N A G UA A ND TA R G E T S € 10 0 M + S A L E S I N 2 0 2 2

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HSL, the rapidly growing environmental management company, has announced that it has agreed to acquire clean water and wastewater solutions business Glan Agua.

Glan Agua works with leading water utilities in Ireland and the UK and is a division of Portuguese engineering and construction company Mota Engil Group.

The acquisition will more than double BHSL’s revenues, with plans for sales in 2022 of over €100m, and expands its operations into adjacent water services and waste management activities.

BHSL is a ‘waste to value’ company that provides technological and engineering solutions to the growing global waste market by simultaneously providing an alternative to waste disposal by converting waste to heat and electricity. The combined businesses will have over 300 staff across the UK and Ireland and plan to invest in expanding Glan Agua, which will involve hiring a further 50 staff in the coming months.

Glan Agua’s customers include Irish Water, Thames Water, Affinity Water, Yorkshire Water and several other local authorities in Ireland and the UK. It also has particular expertise in the food and pharmaceutical sectors.

Denis Brosnan, Executive Chairman, BHSL, said: “Glan Agua is an excellent fit for BHSL, and the acquisition supports our strategy to expand as an environmental solutions business focused on extracting value from waste products and supporting the circular economy.

Glan Agua’s blue-chip client base in the UK and Ireland provides a strong platform for further expansion in the municipal water and waste sector.”

Karl Zimmerer, Managing Director, Glan Agua, said: “Joining

Denis Brosnan, Executive Chairman, BHSL. with BHSL is an exciting step for the Glan Agua team, where we will become part of a rapidly growing business with a focus on the water and waste management industry in the UK and Ireland. Glan Agua has a proven track record of delivering for its customers through our 13 years in business, and we share BHSL’s commitment to innovation and helping our customers address environmental challenges safely, sustainably and responsibly, creating value with waste residue where possible.”

The acquisition is subject to approval from the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission.

Up d a te d OS I Ge o Hiv e provides unprecedented access to map data about Ire land

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rdnance Survey Ireland (OSi) has launched an updated GeoHive, the state’s geospatial data infrastructure, with the support of the Office of the Government chief information

officer.

An online treasury of interactive maps, geospatial data and apps, GeoHive provides unprecedented access to information about Ireland that can be accessed by everyone.

GeoHive allows public-service bodies, commercial organisations, not-for-profit groups and the general public to more easily find, analyse and use data on all aspects of life in Ireland, from the natural environment to economic development, education and housing.

People can explore digital maps and compare data across different

regions or time periods to gain the insight they need to make wellinformed evidence-led decisions.

Developed by OSi, GeoHive meets the need for a single platform for sharing geospatial data that was envisaged by the government in its Public Sector Data Strategy 2019-2023. All public sector organisations can use GeoHive to publish their datasets, web services and maps and make their up-to-date geospatial information easy for everyone to find and use.

GeoHive is very easy to use, allowing people without technical skills or specialist software to explore the public sector data available and analyse it. Users can find the answers to their questions by zooming into an interactive map, searching in a data catalogue or exploring the themes section, which includes a selection of ready-touse apps, StoryMaps and dashboards.

Hugh Mangan, OSi, says that GeoHive is unlocking data and transforming it into understanding. “It is now much easier for people to find public sector data online, as it is all in one place. They can also more easily explore this data on interactive maps, analyse it and gain a deeper understanding of the issues that impact their local communities, the economy and the environment.”

OSi will continue to develop GeoHive to ensure that it meets the current and future needs of public sector stakeholders and the country as a whole.

To learn more, visit www.geohive.ie

irishconstructionnews 7 December 2021

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C a ll 4 o f D is r u p t iv e Te c h n o lo g ie s In n o v a t io n F u n d la u n c h e d

Construction Sector Group Innovation and Digital Adoption Chairperson PJ Rudden.

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new round of funding aimed at encouraging collaborations between industry and the research sector on the development and commercialisation of ground-breaking technologies has been launched.

Call 4 of the Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund (DTIF) was launched by Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Leo Varadkar.

To date, the Government has allocated €235m to 72 successful projects approved under the previous three DTIF calls.

These projects cover areas such as life sciences, medical devices, ICT, artificial intelligence, manufacturing and environmental sustainability and include projects such as TRIDENT, INSPIRE, To drive enterprise collaborations, each project must have at least one SME and one other enterprise in a consortium of three or more project partners.

Collaborations with the Irish research sector are encouraged. All partners must be based in Ireland and be a client of Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland or Údarás na Gaeltachta, or an eligible Research Performing Organisation.

PJ Rudden, Chairperson, Innovation and Digital Adoption, Construction Sector Group, says that the fund has a key role to play in facilitating innovation in the construction sector.

‘The Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund is ideal to give our construction industry the opportunity to develop innovative solutions with government funding to solve the many productivity and sustainability challenges that the industry now faces building major projects under

the National Development Plan. It could also help progress modular design to realise Housing for All ambitions for sustainable affordable homes and help cut our carbon emissions by 50% to comply with the 2021 Climate Action Plan.”

The minimum funding request is €1.5m for projects of up to three years’ duration, and the enterprise partners must provide matching funding.

The fund is competitive and will be assessed by an independent international panel of experts.

Projects include a refrigerant-free heat pump and a low-cost, high-performance sodium-ion smart battery system using entirely sustainable materials and processes.

The Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund (DTIF) is a €500m fund established under the National Development Plan (NDP) in 2018.

The deadline for receipt of applications is Thursday, 10 February 2022.

Prospective applicants can obtain detailed information on the fund and on the application process through the DTIF Call 4 documentation webpage.

G overnment announce interim measures to address c o n s t r u c t io n m a t e r ia ls p r ic e in f la t io n o n p u b lic w o r k s p r o je c t s

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he Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Michael McGrath has announced details of interim measures to address the impact that the recent price increases in construction materials is having on public works tenders.

Since the risk of inflation largely passes to contractors under public works contracts, contractors are reluctant to commit to a price that may be submitted many months before the works commence with no opportunity to seek additional payment to cover price increases over the construction phase.

Minister McGrath comments: “I recognise the problems that these exceptional material cost increases are having on public projects at present. I am conscious of the difficulties being experienced by public bodies in progressing their projects due to sustained construction material price increases whilst at the same time I need to safeguard the interests of the taxpayer.”

The guidance is aimed at contracting

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Michael McGrath authorities who have invited or received tenders and covers the following situations: • Where tenders have been received but a contract is yet to be awarded, • Those live tenders where the deadline for

receipt of tenders has not passed; and • Tenders that are yet to commence.

With reference to future tenders, interim amendments to the provisions in the public works contracts were introduced in December which, within certain parameters, will reduce the level of risk of extraordinary price inflation that contractors will have to bear.

These will: • Address the period between tender submission and award through limited indexation of the tender price; and, • Reduce the fixed price period to 24 months and permit mutual cost recovery within the fixed price period for material price changes in excess of 15%.

Further amendments on price inflation will be developed for consultation with stakeholders in 2022, which will form part of the ongoing Capital Works Management Framework review and the commitments in Housing for All.

irishconstructionnews 9 December 2021

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Ir e la n d ’ s le a d in g c o n s t r u c t io n n e w s w e b s it e

c o n s t r u c t io n n e w s . ie

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g e t s d ig it a l u p g r a d e

oundation Media and Irish Construction News are excited to announce the launch of our newly redesigned responsive website www.constructionews.ie. constructionnews.ie has been completely revamped to give visitors a much-improved user experience, with more video, images and industry features and reduced clutter, whether they visit the website from their desktop or mobile device. constructionnews.ie is faster, easier to navigate, and more user-friendly, with a fresh and attractive look. The redesign will see news updated more quickly and more often. It will also allow more straightforward navigation and better sharing of stories with site visitors’ networks The website also features comprehensive profiles of the Irish Construction News Top 40 Building Contractors and Top 20 M&E Engineering Contractors.

Welcoming the relaunch of the website, Robbie Cousins, Editor, Irish Construction News and constructionnews.ie, said: “The newly enhanced website represents a big step

in the digital development of Foundation Media’s service offering. It allows for greater sharing, more interaction and far more image- and video-driven content, which will consolidate constructionews.ie’s position as Ireland’s No 1 online construction and engineering news provider.”

The new design has an improved news section that features all of the latest regional and national construction and engineering news and opinion, with up-to-date video and images throughout the site. There is also analysis, discussion and blogs from top journalists and industry opinion leaders. We also extensively cover the latest sector sustainability news, where you can easily access information about the latest initiatives, regulations and what is on the horizon.

Amongst the new features, the site contains integrated social media buttons for Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn to foster improved communications.

Site visitors can also easily subscribe to Irish Construction News magazine or sign up our free e-newsletter.

To w a r d s N e t Z e r o Ir e la n d C o n s t r u c t io n A w a r d s

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ew awards programme to recognise Irish pioneers and leaders in netzero construction

With sustainability now a core principle among construction firms, architects, engineers and building material manufacturers, zero-energy building is very much in focus across the construction sector.

TOWARDS NET ZERO IRELAND CONSTRUCTION AWARDS

The Towards Net Zero Ireland Construction Awards is a new awards programme that will recognise pioneers and leaders among building owners, developers, designers, and managers who are demonstrating significant progress along the path towards net zero.

The inaugural Towards Net Zero Ireland Construction Awards event will take place next year in Dublin on 08 April.

AWARDS CATEGORIES

The principles of net zero incorporate

environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards. Environmental principles are balanced by health and wellbeing, as well as governance, in which the community, government, and developer work towards achieving and delivering these objectives in a meaningful and measurable way.

The 10 Towards Net Zero Ireland Construction Awards categories are • Commercial Building • Public Building • Industrial Building • Large Scale Apartment Development • Housing Estate Development • Civil Engineering Project • Retrofit of a Building • Design Practice • Net-Zero Champion • Innovation

WHO SHOULD ENTER?

The awards are open to architects, builders, and developers in the sector, irrespective of size, across the island of Ireland. Entries

will be judged on merit by an independent panel of experts according to the following criteria: Innovation; Overall design; Energy efficiencies achieved; Application of technology; and, Full lifecycle carbon reduction achieved.

CLOSING DATE FOR ENTRIES

Submissions will be accepted on or before 14 February 2022, and the winners will be announced at a function on 08 April 2022.

For full details, visit www.netzeroawards.ie

irishconstructionnews 11 December 2021

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O ’C ALLAG HAN PRO PERTIES SUBMITS PLANNING APPLIC ATIO N FO R € 3 5 0 M C O R K S O U T H D O C K S P R OJ E C T

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he revitalisation of the Cork’s South Docks has received a significant boost with confirmation that O’Callaghan Properties has applied for planning permission for a €350m project. The scheme will incorporate a hospital, office blocks and residential units, which will be the first stage of O’Callaghan Properties’ plans for the sprawling 31-acre docklands campus.

The proposed development includes a 130-bed rehabilitation hospital to be operated by French medical group ORPEA, approximately 450,000 sq ft of office space, and 80,000 sq ft of residential development.

Brian O’Callaghan, Managing Director, O’Callaghan Properties, said that the project at Kennedy Quay could create 5,000 new jobs on completion and transform the area into a major driver of economic activity.

“South Docks has played a key role in the social and working life of Cork and has constantly evolved and changed,” Brian O’Callaghan said. “The area has moved from industrial use to the ‘new economy’ – our project not only facilitates that journey but creates a new focal point for the city, a new, sustainable amenity of scale.

“This project provides compelling new options for FDI and indigenous investment and makes a clear statement about the city and the business opportunities in optimal locations outside of Dublin, in the post-Covid and post-Brexit period,” he added.

The main office accommodation will be distributed among three buildings ranging in height from nine to 12 storeys. The new apartment development, comprising 80 “build to sell” apartments, will be in an 11-storey tower block.

The project will also include the restoration and re-purposing of the derelict Odlums Mills to create two, seven- and nine-storey

Artist’s impression of O’Callaghan Properties’ South Docks scheme. buildings incorporating some 84 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments as well as a cinema, food hall and office space.

Provision has also been made for a bridge over the River Lee for Cork’s proposed east-west light rail transport system, due after 2030.

C O NSTRUC TION BEG INS ON € 50M BISHOP ’S QUAY L I M E R I C K D E V E L O P M E N T C R E AT I N G 10 0 J O B S

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€50m development at Bishop’s Quay in Limerick Artist’s impression of 1BQ, Limerick . city has begun construction, creating 100 jobs. The nine-storey riverside block, which has been officially named 1BQ, will be built on the site of the old ESB building and is led by the development company Kirkland Investments. It is due for completion in the autumn of 2023.

At the official sod-turning ceremony, Mayor of the City and County of Limerick, Councillor Daniel Butler said: “As our economy recovers from the Covid-19 downturn, 1BQ brings promise and potential. Not only does it support jobs – both during the construction phase and after – it also benefits Limerick’s reputation as a city that is great to live and work in.”

1BQ will transform the Limerick Rudi Butler, Chairman, Kirkland city landscape with the nine-storey Investments, said: “We hope 1BQ represents building comprising of 110,000 sq ft of highthe beginning of a significant transformation spec office space, and, in addition, 34 luxury for Limerick - a transformation that we as apartments, retail space for hospitality a local development company are keen to businesses and more than 100 underground champion. Whilst we have been purposefully car parking spaces.

measured in our approach in terms of its scale, 1BQ is an ambitious development. It’s set to be the first building of this grade in the city and is a significant milestone as the city recovers from the pandemic and continues to compete with national counterparts.”

The 1BQ complex will incorporate the principles of Nearly Zero Energy Buildings (NZEB) and is designed to meet the highest standards of energy-saving to ensure a comfortable environment for its occupiers while also implementing the latest renewable technologies. This includes using heat-pump technology throughout the building and heat recovery ventilation systems to keep energy loss to a minimum. Photovoltaic panels will provide free electricity from solar radiation, and 1BQ will also offer electric car charging facilities and 100 bicycle spaces with changing facilities, supporting active and sustainable travel in the city.

irishconstructionnews 13 December 2021

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J OHN PA UL CONSTR UC TION E XPANDS SENIOR LEADERSHIP TEAM

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he board of John Paul Construction has announced the promotion of Gary Howard to its senior leadership team. He takes up the role of Associate Director – Mission Critical.

Over the past eight years, John Paul Construction has expanded its mission-critical portfolio, delivering numerous data centre projects in Ireland, the UK and the Middle East.

Gary Howard has been instrumental in expanding John Paul Construction’s presence in the mission-critical/data centre sector and has a proven track record of successfully delivering multidisciplinary projects on a fast-track basis.

Commenting on Howard’s appointment, Liam Kenny, Managing Director, John Paul Construction, said: “We are delighted with

L to r: Gary Howard, Associate Director - Mission Critical, John Paul Construction; Liam Kenny, Managing Director, John Paul Construction; and John Keaveney, Construction Director, John Paul Construction.

Gary’s promotion to our senior team where he will be responsible for expanding our base of operations, whilst maintaining John Paul Construction’s position as the contractor of choice within the mission-critical sector.”

PAT C O X A P P O I N T E D CHA IR P E R S ON OF E C OCE M

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ow carbon cement manufacturer Ecocem has appointed former president of the European Parliament Pat Cox as chair of Ecocem Group.

Pat Cox is the current chair of the Finance Green Ireland Committee, is chairing the inaugural Dublin Climate Dialogues this year. He is also chair of the Gore Street Energy Storage Fund – the first-ever listed fund for grid-scale battery storage by the London Stock Exchange.

The Ecocem Group has seen exceptional domestic performance as well as exports to the UK and Europe. In May of this year, Ecocem announced the completion of a €22.5m equity investment by Breakthrough Energy Ventures (BEV) and Breakthrough

Energy Ventures-Europe (BEV-E). This investment will enable Ecocem to bring new low-carbon cement technology to the market over the coming years.

Donal O’Riain, founder and Managing Director, Ecocem, said: “We are now in a period of major growth for our business as we deploy new low-carbon technology across the cement sector in Europe. We are delighted to have someone of Pat Cox’s experience and commitment to sustainability to chair the Ecocem board at such an exciting and challenging time for Ecocem.”

Pat Cox commented: “Concrete, after water, is the most widely used substance on earth. The cement industry globally would, if it was a state, be the third largest carbon

Pat Cox, Chairperson, Ecocem. dioxide emitter in the world. Ecocem, through its commitment to innovation and new technologies, is determined to make a difference at scale – a quality that makes the privileged engagement of chairmanship a challenging duty consistent with the needs of our times.”

Shane Curran a p p o i n t e d d i r e c t o r of SISK interior fit-out division

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Shane Curran, Director, Interiors by Sisk .

14 irishconstructionnews December 2021

ohn Sisk & Son has announced the appointment of Shane Curran as director of its newly established interior fit-out division, Interiors by Sisk.

Sisk has a depth of experience in the fit-out sector over many years and recently completed major projects for JP Morgan, Deloitte and the IDA. Interiors by Sisk has been established to develop an independently managed fit-out offering within the fit-out sector across Ireland.

Commenting on the appointment and the

establishment of the new division, Donal McCarthy, Chief Operating Officer, John Sisk & Son, Ireland and Europe, said: “I am delighted to welcome Shane to the company and see the great progress he is already making in building his team at Interiors by Sisk.”

Shane Curran commented: “I look forward to working with the team of talented, enthusiastic professionals both within Interiors by Sisk and the wider Sisk business. People are at the core of everything we do, and I want to nurture a collaborative workspace where an environment of transparency and inclusivity will play a pivotal role.”

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P a u l B r o w n to succeed Steve Bowcott as S is k C E O

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Paul Brown, incoming CEO of John Sisk & Son

ohn Sisk & Son has announced the appointment of Paul Brown as its new CEO with effect from 01 January 2022.

He takes up the position from current CEO Steve Bowcott, who has been in the role for six and a half years.

Speaking on behalf of the board of Sicon (the group holding company) and the Sisk family, chairperson Gary McGann said: “We are pleased to appoint Paul to this role and are very fortunate to have someone of his calibre and experience to take up the leadership of the company.

We are very grateful for Steve’s commitment and his service to

Sisk since his appointment in 2015, and as his term comes to an end, the board believes that Paul has the skills and qualities to continue to deliver our progressive strategy as the leading Irish construction company.”

Paul Brown is currently chief operating officer (COO) for Sisk’s UK construction business and the group civil engineering business. Over his 25 years in the industry, he has developed strong leadership skills enabling him to lead effective teams and develop strong and lasting customer and colleague relationships.

Commenting on his appointment, Paul Brown said: “I am honoured to lead our business into the next phase of its development, building on Steve’s great work and that of my colleagues. I want to thank the Sicon board, the Sisk family and all of my colleagues for their support and look forward to working with them towards the continued success of the company.”

G e r R o n a y n e appointed C EO of JJ Rhatican & C o J J Rhatigan has announced the expansion of its senior team with the appointment of Ger Ronayne as its new chief executive officer (CEO).

Ronayne has worked with JJ Rhatigan for 23 years, joining the company as a senior engineer in 1998. He has most recently served as chief operating officer. In this new role, Ronayne will continue to lead business areas for key clients and drive the formulation and development of strategy and organisational capability to ensure the ongoing success of the building contractor.

Speaking about the appointment, Rhatigan managing director and chairman, Padraic Rhatigan, said: “Ger’s vast construction delivery experience, his leadership qualities and innovative thinking, coupled with his practical approach and collaborative skills, will guide JJ Rhatigan & Co in its next phase of development and success.”

Ger Ronayne said that there is a great sense of legacy within JJ Rhatigan & Co and a strong sense of pride that is shared right across the team. “I am personally and professionally delighted to move into this pivotal role at such an important

(L to r): Ger Ronayne, CEO, JJ Rhatigan & Co; and Padraic Rhatigan, Chairman, JJ Rhatigan & Co. and transformative time for the overall construction industry.”

This appointment, together with other significant management progressions, will position the tier-1 main contractor to avail of large-scale opportunities over the next five years particularly, but also into the longterm future. With a new senior management

structure now firmly in place, Rhatigan is reaffirming its commitment to the collaborative delivery of projects across all sectors and an enhanced focus on reducing the environmental impact of both projects and business activities through the adoption of emerging technologies and continuous improvement.

irishconstructionnews 15 December 2021

MAI N FE ATURE Hugh Wallace, Director, Douglas Wallace Associates.

“ We n e e d t o ha v e a c o nv e r s a t io n a b o u t n e w b u ild s a n d b u ild in g in s u b u rb ia ” Architect HUGH WALLACE tells Mimi Murray that Housing for All is yet another lofty document that claims to have all the answers when the real problem is a broken planning system that the government won’t address.

16 irishconstructionnews December 2021

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ousing for All is an ambitious government plan to deliver 33,000 residential units a year up to 2030.

While it has been welcomed by many, others are more sceptical of what the plan can deliver or achieve in that time.

Director of Douglas Wallace Associates and judge on RTE’s popular Home of the Year television show, Hugh Wallace is in the latter camp. He describes Housing for All as “yet another lofty document” that will have little chance of success unless several factors change or are reformed to speed up the planning process and the delivery of developments.

“You only have to look at the other

documents issued in relation to the rural regeneration of Ireland,” Hugh Wallace explains. “My issue with these documents is that they follow on from a series of other lofty documents, and what we need now is action. Moreover, the main problem is a planning process that is broken.

“Our practice would have been involved in a number of projects where we engaged with local authority planning departments and got a direction which we went down. The planner then changed in the middle of the process, and the new planner’s interpretation differed from the last person. So, instead of being able to enter into discussion with the planning department (it’s not permitted

MAI N FE ATURE under the present planning system), it just went straight to refusal. We could have negotiated a position had we been able to speak with the department. This is just one of a whole series of obstacles in the way,” he contends.

He adds that the when and why planning is required also needs to be reviewed as the system for new builds does not fit with the renewal of older properties.

“If you have a building, particularly in a town or village, that hasn’t been used for years, you should not have to go through planning to put it back into residential use.

On top of that, what you have is building control legislation that is for new builds being shoehorned into residential over the shop scenarios, and they don’t match or marry.

“Planning and building control regulations need to change. Decisions need to be black or white with no grey areas. While buildings are treated on a case by case basis, people need to be able to make planning applications with the confidence that to know how planning authorities will treat their submissions. We also need to be able to go into the council and deal with one person who comes back and says this is what you need to do. Instead, at the moment, there are so many bodies involved that the process is failing for everyone. I’m not suggesting there should be a compromise, but there is a balance to be struck. For example, in a building over the shop, maybe you have a higher specification on a fire alarm system.

This could be offset against other issues,” he says.

Wallace cites the example of New Ross, where the local authority is doing “a great job” in terms of the public realm, yet he says nobody lives in the town centre, something he wholeheartedly disagrees with.

“If you go to the UK, France or Italy, they are living over the shop in small towns and villages. You have everything in abundance on your doorstep. People need to get over their snobbery about living in these places. We are missing huge opportunities here. There is no need for another semidetached house to be built, and there are so many brownfield sites and building stock available.”

LIVING CITIES INITIATIVE

“The Living Cities Initiatives are a best-kept secret; nobody knows about them. You buy a property and spend €200K doing it up, and you offset this against your private income tax for 10 years. That should be rolled out around the countryside. It’s supposed to peter out this year, which is a disgrace.

But when you come to try and do up an old property, a world of bureaucracy falls upon your head, and then you just can’t be bothered,” Wallace comments.

He adds that changing legislation and

“We’re building residential units of the wrong scale and type in the wrong locations, so we’re just kicking the can down the road creating problems for the future.” making it fit for purpose with regard to old buildings would make it more attractive for people to move into cities and towns.

“We need to conserve our cities and their buildings, but this has to be tempered and balanced with the level of conservation work required in every build. It’s about a practical approach. There are buildings on protected structure lists that we know of all around this country that are falling to pieces, yet nobody does anything. But as soon as you go to do something with them, the rigours of the world come upon you. There has to be a balance. That doesn’t mean you’re not respecting or ensuring the valued elements are maintained or sustained,” he adds.

OPEN UP BROWNFIELD SITES

“In order to beef up the housing stock with the homes that young people and families need right now, we should be looking to brownfield sites,” Hugh Wallace comments.

“In other European countries, if you have a plot of land, the local authorities say you can build six floors, that’s where you can build, and that’s where the open space should go. If you submit a plan to that design, you don’t have to apply for planning permission. In development plans in Ireland, when areas are zoned for residential, that is the time when people should object, not after. Then, if a developer complies with the development plan and zoning in terms of height and density, they should not have to apply for

planning permission,” he says.

“There are too many vested interests in the pot to ever resolve this, people looking after their own patch while the bureaucracy has gotten out of hand. The planners are as frustrated as everyone else. There are 60,000 more people in Ireland this year than there were last year. Next year, there will be 60,000 more and every year thereafter. So the requirements for housing are only going to continue to increase in the coming years.

But we’re building residential units of the wrong scale and type in the wrong locations, so we’re just kicking the can down the road creating problems for the future. If you drive around Cork or Clonmel, there are plenty of urban brownfield sites, just like other cities and towns. These should be CPO’d and built on, but nobody will ever do that,” he says.

FAMILIES IN CITIES

The lack of young families in our towns and cities is evident.

“Schools have posters up about enrolment because there are no kids to go to them.

We need young families back in our cities, but young families can’t afford to be in our cities. They are the vibrancy and the future generation. There is hope if people could sit in a room and not have vested interests and not be looking after their patch,” he says.

“We are such a dynamic country in one way, but we are petrified by regulation.

Nobody wants to stick their head over the wall because it would be chopped off. That isn’t what happened in the past, and there were mistakes made. Look at the work our councillors and planners did during the 1930s and right up to the 1970s and the social housing that was built - but we’ve lost that ability. There are only so many opportunities to get this right, so we need to be more focused,” he says.

RESTORE EXISTING HOUSING STOCK

In terms of new building methods, he says they are and they aren’t helpful when it comes to speeding up the building process.

“A house has four walls and a similar configuration; it’s not a miracle. But if a developer buys a site, by the time he can put a block in the ground, he’ll be lucky if it’s three years, meaning five years until it’s delivered. Meanwhile, there are 200,000 residential units sitting there rotting around the country. Why not bring these empty units up to standard. We need to have a conversation with ourselves about new builds and building in suburbia.

Are we honest about climate change and sustainability? If we are, then some of us will have to live in the centre of our towns. We can’t all be in a semi-detached in the suburbs; it’s just not sustainable,” he concludes.

irishconstructionnews 17 December 2021

MAI N FE ATURE Hugh McCann, Development Manager, Bluemont.

Sub stantial legislative changes will be needed for H o u s in g f o r A ll t o w o r k HUGH MCCANN, Development Manager, Bluemont, speaks with Robbie Cousins about the opportunities and challenges that Housing for All presents for developers.

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he government’s housing delivery plan up to 2030 Housing for All sets out four pathways to achieve four overarching objectives: Supporting homeownership and increasing affordability; Eradicating homelessness, increasing social housing delivery and supporting social inclusion; Increasing new housing supply; and Addressing vacancy and efficient use of existing stock.

Each pathway contains a set of actions to achieve a specific set of objectives. The plan allocates the largest housing budget in the state’s history to support these pathways, with more than €20bn in funding through the exchequer, the Land Development Agency (LDA) and the Housing Finance Agency over the next five years. This also is intended to support the creation of an enabling framework of a more sustainable housing system to meet the country’s housing needs in the coming years.

BLUEMONT

Bluemont was founded on the back of 20 years of successful project delivery across Ireland and the UK. The brand was established to consolidate the company’s development approach – raising the bar in terms of design while being mindful of buildability and viability. The company focuses on developing residential and healthcare facilities and works out of offices in Dublin and London.

As housing development comprises the majority of Bluemont’s portfolio of work, the Housing for All plan will impact the decisions that the developer’s management team make over the coming years.

One member of that team Development Manager Hugh McCann, says that Housing for All should be welcomed by the housing

18 irishconstructionnews December 2021

sector as it proposes more joined-up thinking between government departments and agencies, as well as committing the levels of funding that are required to make a serious impact on addressing the current housing crisis.

HOLISTIC PLAN

“Housing for All gives the sector a plan that for the first time proposes taking a more holistic approach to housing delivery, and it acknowledges many of the challenges that the sector faces in delivering housing,” comments Hugh McCann. “It has ambitious targets. It aims to deliver 156,000 private homes, 90,000 social homes, 36,000 affordable units, and 18,000 cost rentals. It is good to see these numbers. Its annual target of 33,000 residential units is good, although some think it should be 40,000 units.

“The plan’s ambitions are not limited to housing output; it is also setting out to reform the planning process and establish processes and systems that will facilitate more efficient housing delivery.

“The fact that the plan is funded from the start is a big plus. The €20bn committed over the next five years shows that the government is serious about trying to deliver.”

SOCIAL HOUSING

As a developer of social housing, McCann says Bluemont welcomes the fact that the role of AHBs is being further enhanced and that the LDA is being given a greater role in the release of public lands for development. He adds that it is essential that there is a genuine allgovernment cross-departmental approach to the plan, including local authority involvement.

“Government departments and public agencies must work together to monitor and progress the plan, or it will not succeed.”

MAI N FE ATURE

Hole in the Wall, Clongriff in, Dublin, a development of 410 units which recently received planning permission.

PLAN CHALLENGES

Hugh McCann says, however, that he will be watching to see how this collaborative approach develops.

“Taking a collaborative approach to housing delivery also means that the government and its agencies work in partnership with the private sector. For this to succeed, there needs to be joined-up thinking and action. The whole process needs to be integrated from government departments to local authorities, An Bord Pleanála and utility providers, right through to financing, developers, AHBS and builders. We all have to be able to work better together.”

Legislative reform will be critical “It is clear that there will be a need for substantial legislative changes for the plan to be realised, particularly in the area of planning where there are several reforms required,” McCann continues. “With additional legislation comes additional costs, and it will be essential to strike a balance between increasing standards and delivering the plan’s objectives.

“Some reforms can have unintended consequences. For example, the complexity of regulation in the private rental sector has led to a significant number of small private landlords leaving the market with a loss of further rental stock in an already undersupplied market.”

PLANNING PROCESS

The process of delivering larger developments is being reviewed.

Flaws in the Strategic Housing Development (SHD) process have been recognised, with substantial delays, particularly as a result of judicial reviews. The introduction of new arrangements for large scale residential developments (LSRDs) will supersede the existing SHD process, which is currently due to lapse at the end of February 2022.

Hugh McCann says that the planning process, to some degree, is being returned to its original form, with applications being made to local authorities in the first place. But he contends that this should happen with several important reforms. In theory, the new process should lead to greater consultation with third parties, resulting in less need for judicial reviews.

“The General Scheme of Planning and Development (Amendment) (LSRD) Bill 2021 needs to ensure that uncertainty in terms of risk, costs and delays are removed from the planning process,” he comments. “In addition, the pre-planning consultation process needs to be streamlined with clear statutory deadlines providing applicants with certainty on timelines for lodging planning

Tullamore Primary Care Centre. applications.

“Clarification will be required in relation to the ‘further information requests’ process, and further changes will be required to address the number of judicial reviews of SHD applications.”

He adds that currently, it is estimated that the judicial reviews associated with SHDs are adding €8,000 to €12,000 per unit cost for developers and another 12 months to the process.

“Developers using the SHD process are in a situation whereby they could be spending more time in planning than they are building their developments. The Housing for All plan acknowledges these issues and commits to carrying out a comprehensive review of current planning legislation and establishing a new court division with the expressed remit of dealing with planning and environmental issues.

Comprehensive reform of the planning process will be critical to the plan’s success.”

Finally, in the area of planning, McCann says that there needs to be greater innovation and technology adoption, particularly in relation to e-planning by local authorities.

“Currently, there is a situation where we have to provide multiple boxes of hard copy documentation for planning submissions.

Technological advances should facilitate the planning submission process to be fully digitalised. This would increase efficiency, and reduce time and costs for the applicant.”

UTILIT Y PROVISION

Hugh McCann welcomes the fact that many of the problems experienced by developers and contractors with utility provision are also acknowledged in the plan.

“Delays with connections and additional charges are a constant problem for developers and contractors. This can be resolved by providing greater resources to reduce the pre-connection enquiry

irishconstructionnews 19 December 2021

MAI N FE ATURE Carrs Lane, Dublin 17, a social housing development by Bluemont.

“Taking a collaborative approach to housing delivery also means that the government and its agencies work in partnership with the private sector. For this to succeed, there needs to be joined-up thinking and action.” process and shortening the connection timescales that are delaying developments being completed by several months.”

He continues by saying that it is encouraging to see that the principle whereby the first developer pays for the inputting of greater infrastructure than is required for their landbank will be reviewed.

“The fact that there is recognition that this area needs to be addressed is positive.”

McCann adds that when it comes to utilities, it all comes back to absolute clarity on what needs to be invested in utilities and knowing the time it will take to bring sites online.

“Utility companies need to give developers more certainty about what infrastructure will look like in an area, so we can plan and not get hit by unexpected delays, amendments or costs. We need greater certainty on costs and timing. If we had this, then the process would operate more efficiently. There needs to be greater investment in resources, people and upgrade works on the government’s and utility companies’ side.”

proactive, or this will have consequences for Building for All. “We are all aware of many of the issues affecting building materials costs. Timber and steel prices have risen significantly over the past 18 months. The whole supply chain has been massively interrupted by events over the past two years, and, of course, there are labour shortages in the sector.

“The Housing for All plan sets objectives to reduce construction costs through areas such demolition waste management amendments, improving supply chains, policies for increasing the workforce and promoting innovation in the construction sector.

Most of these proposals will take time to implement. However, in some areas, urgent action could be taken. For example, in Ireland, there has been a backlog of 6,000 forestry and felling licences to be granted, which would have eased the pressure on timber supply.”

MODERN BUILDING PRACTICES

Hugh McCann believes the vacant properties element of the plan may be too challenging to resolve.

“There are many properties in towns across the country that are vacant because of a number of complex issues, and it can be challenging to identify who actually owns these properties,” he comments. “This area is complex, and in the end, there may not be as many properties being released as the plan projects. For example, if you take the area of probate, it can take years before a property could be released back for occupation.

“Also, the cost of refurbishing these properties to modern standards/regulations may be prohibitive, particularly to meet current fire regulation standards. The principle of creating new vibrant city centres and rejuvenating vacant property would be welcome but will be challenging to achieve.”

McCann says that the construction industry is making progress in addressing efficiency issues also. “This progress will be crucial to the delivery of housing in the coming years. Lean construction, modern methods of construction (MMC) and digital construction technologies all need to be standard as soon as possible across the industry.

“By employing lean construction methods, we are reducing costs and enhancing quality. We need systems and processes that encourage and facilitate collaboration on projects from an early stage.

Building information modelling (BIM) has been a real game-changer for the efficiency of project delivery.”

Bluemont recently completed a scheme where it used bathroom pods manufactured in Ireland with the full unit including painting and tiling completed off site.

“The quality of these units is so good that you would not know that they were manufactured. Previously, to achieve this, you would require seven tradespeople on site working in close proximity to each other.

“We are also looking at precast concrete panel solutions to increase the speed of delivery of projects. All of these off-site solutions are available in Ireland, which also reduces carbon emissions.”

In the aftermath of COP26, Hugh McCann says that the construction sector needs to take a holistic look at decarbonisation and move quickly to take action on this.

“MMC, lean and digital construction technologies all have a role to play in reducing the sector’s carbon emissions.”

INDUSTRY CHALLENGES

IN CONCLUSION

VACANCY AND EFFICIENT USE OF EXISTING STOCK

Brexit, Covid-19, building materials costs, skills shortages and sector efficiency are all issues that are centre stage in the construction sector at the moment. Hugh McCann says that the construction sector is working to address these issues, but the government also needs to be

20 irishconstructionnews December 2021

Overall, Hugh McCann says Housing for All sets ambitious targets, and there needs to be massive reform in the planning process and infrastructure delivery for it to succeed. The construction sector also needs to play its part.

MAI N FE ATURE

Can H o u s in g f o r A ll d e liv e r s o c ia l h o u s in g s o lu t io n s ?

SHARON COSGROVE, CEO, Oaklee Housing, believes Housing for All has a lot to offer for social housing development, but there are several important issues including skills shortages and planning - to be addressed if the plan is to succeed. Mimi Murray reports.

Sharon Cosgrove, CEO, Oaklee Housing.

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ousing for All, the government’s housing delivery plan up to 2030, is a multi-annual, multi-billion euro plan aimed at improving Ireland’s housing system and delivering more homes of all types for people with different housing needs.

Part of the plan is to provide more than 10,000 social homes each year, with an annual average of 9,500 new-build social housing homes up to 2026.

Oaklee Housing is an approved housing body (AHB) that has been in existence for 20 years. Over that time, it has developed

and delivered housing across 18 local authority areas throughout the country, initially starting in the border counties. Its geographic footprint now reaches from the north-east into the midlands and along the south coast, with a substantial presence in Dublin. Developments mainly include family housing, with a few schemes that see Oaklee work with care providers or specialist support providers. Oaklee is one AHB that will be expected to deliver a good chunk of what is in the Housing for All plan.

Sharon Cosgrove, CEO, Oaklee Housing, has been with the charity since 2016. In that

time, she has seen it grow substantially year on year. Five years ago, the stock level under its management stood at 600 homes; that figure now stands at about 2,100 units.

“It has grown at a rate of about 200 units a year up to last year. In the past year, we have been delivering some of our own housing stock, and also we are part of the consortium on the first PPP social housing bundle, ‘Social Housing PPP Bundle 1’. We have since taken into management the 543 homes that were delivered in the consortium. John Sisk & Son delivered this development, and we’re the tenancy management company for

irishconstructionnews 21 December 2021

MAI N FE ATURE

Oaklee Housing scheme in Walkin Street, Kilkenny.Cromwellsfort Rd., Dublin 22 it,” she says.

OAKLEE HOUSING OPERATIONS

To develop and finance its housing delivery, Oaklee has an in-house development team that project manages/coordinates the development programme, and they contract builders and developers to deliver housing on some design and build and turnkey properties.

“From 2015 on, we also purchased some unfinished stock and bought portfolios of vacant apartments, so we have a mix of housing and scheme types under management. After the last crash, there was very little grant funding other than for special needs categories, so we borrow from banks, including the Housing Finance Agency, which was established to help the sector access private finance. We borrow about 70% of the cost of everything that we buy or build under mortgage over 25 years. The other 30% comes from the local authority and the Department of Housing, repayable at the end of the term. Rental income and an availability payment from local authorities ensure that we can meet mortgage payments,” Sharon Cosgrove explains.

HOUSING FOR ALL AMBITIONS

“Everybody talks about the plan being very ambitious - 33,000 housing units per year - and in that the first year of the plan 10,000 units for social housing, the majority of which have to be new build,” Cosgrove continues. “With this plan, there’s much more emphasis on new supply and new construction. It’s a massive challenge when you look at what that means in terms of labour. AHB’s have to deliver something like 40% of the targets for social housing across the country, with 50% expected in Dublin and Cork. Each local authority around the country has to develop a housing delivery action plan, looking at how they will deliver

22 irishconstructionnews December 2021

Oaklee Housing scheme, Moate, Co Westmeath. the numbers for their county. In Dublin and Cork, local authorities will deliver 50% and AHBs the remaining. I expect that the plans will be published for people to see, monitor and measure our performance.

Local delivery plans are a new thing as a result of Housing for All, but it should be a good approach because it makes everything transparent and puts the responsibility very clearly with local authorities and AHBs.”

ACCESS TO LAND

Sharon Cosgrove explains that one of the major challenges facing the delivery of Housing for All is access to land, with planning delays and judicial reviews holding up building, saying there is the intention to reform the planning system to try to deal with this.

“The speed of delivery is affected, and with delays, prices are going up. We’re competing in a busy market, trying to buy and contract with developers, as are local authorities who have been given these massive targets. The Land Development Agency has a massive allocation of finance under Housing for All. As well as that, we have people trying to buy their first homes, so it’s going to be tough,” Cosgrove comments.

WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN NEXT? Discussing funding, Sharon Cosgrove

explains that this year the Budget had all of the funds Housing for All needs to deliver on the plan, but this needs to happen every year over its 10-year lifetime.

“We generally get funding on an annual basis and a scheme by scheme basis. To see a multi-annual budget would be very helpful. The speeding up of the planning system would be positive, as indicated in the Housing for All plan. Decision making needs to be more efficient, and projects need to be approved and on site quickly because of how competitive the market is. But labour and staffing will remain a problem. There’s a limited number of qualified people, and attracting and retaining talent is going to be a challenge,” she says.

AFFORDABILIT Y

“The difference between the Housing for All plan and the last plan is that there’s more emphasis on affordability now,” Cosgrove notes. “There’s affordable for sale and cost rental, which is new for us as a sector. That affordability piece is coming through in those two initiatives. Leasing is being phased out. The other thing that is strong in the plan is investment from the private sector - PPP looks like it will be huge in this plan.

In 2024, there will be another two bundles delivered, and in the two years subsequent to that, four bundles in each year. Eight bundles

MAI N FE ATURE with about 500 units per bundle in PPP is a massive programme. It brings private finance into the delivery of social housing and flags a significant role for AHBs who are interested in managing the tenancies in those. That’s also a huge pipeline of PPP for the construction sector.

“When we embarked on PPP, it changed our operating model, and we have to think about it as a different part of the business.

With traditional social housing by an AHB, we manage and maintain the stock, manage the rent, and keep it in order to fund our business. With the PPP model, it’s a more commercial contract with very high standards, targets, penalties and deductions if we don’t perform. We get a payment for delivering the service, we collect the rent, but the rent goes to the state. It’s been an enormous learning curve in terms of good practice and partnerships. It’s an interesting and effective model that delivers quickly,” she says.

CURRENT PROJECTS

Oaklee Housing currently has a small level of construction activity - two projects on site in Tullamore where it bid for land and bought from the local authority. One is a general needs development, and the other is for older people. Last year, it completed a scheme in Ballybough, Dublin, another in Kilkenny and Clones, Monaghan.

Oaklee purchased turnkey developments in Portarlington and Moate. It also put out a

Sharon Cosgrove, CEO, Oaklee Housing, at Oaklee’s Cromwellfort Road scheme in Dublin. design and build tender for the south-east.

“Continuing to deliver is what’s next for us; under the last plan, we were delivering 150 homes a year. We hope to ramp up a bit with Housing for All targets. They are going to be new builds, so slightly different to turnkeys or acquisitions. We’d also be very keen to bid for more of the PPPs,” she adds.

SUSTAINABILIT Y

“There is a substantial piece of the Housing for All plan focused on town centres and derelict units as well as investing in town and villages,” Sharon Cosgrove adds. “This will be interesting to see from a sustainability point of view. Retrofitting older stock is a challenge

for AHBs and other organisations that own their stock - how is it going to be financed is the key question. The government is indicating that there will be some financial support for retrofitting, but it isn’t exclusively talking about AHB stock as yet. However, there is funding there for retrofitting local authority housing stock. With the 2030 ambitions, we will have to put hard targets in place for retrofitting our housing stock. We have an energy and sustainability strategy, but we need to figure out how we finance that. Do we have to borrow, or are there going to be grants made available? This is going to be a huge piece of work for Oaklee Housing and all other AHBs,” she concludes.

Oaklee Housing scheme at Cromwellfort Road, Dublin 22.

irishconstructionnews 23 December 2021

Solicitors specialising in: Construction Law The Build Environment Dispute Resolution Corporate Training & Seminars Contract Reviews and Drafting

a: Osprey Business Centre, Naas, Co Kildare p: +353 01 639 2911 e: henry.hathaway@hathawaysolicitors.ie w: www.hathawaysolicitors.ie

Henry Hathaway Solicitors is a niche law firm that is tailored and designed to cater specifically to the construction industry.

Henry Hathaway qualified originally as a Civil & Structural Engineer and has previously spent twelve years in the construction industry representing both Contractors and Engineering Clients. He is a practising solicitor in both Ireland and England and Wales.

He acts for clients in relation to disputes and litigation as well as regularly advising on dispute avoidance and alternative dispute resolution. He also acts on non-contentious matters on smalland large-scale construction projects using his 24 irishconstructionnews December 2021

extensive knowledge of the industry both in Ireland and the UK. Henry Hathaway Solicitors provides bespoke training and development progammes for construction companies, which cover areas of contract formation and interpretation, claims in loss expense, and interim and final account disputes. These programmes are suitable for companies that require advice on the compiling of claims, that have payment disputes and to support those who require legal assistance in the process of administering their contracts.

CASE STUDY Focus Ireland reception space.

C ro ss-sec tor collaboration de livers h i g h -s p e c o ff i c e r e f u r b i s h m e n t The renovation and f o r F o c u s Ir e la n d refurbishment of Focus Ireland’s offices on High Street, Dublin 8, was completed by a team comprising over 60 construction professionals, specialist contractors and tradespeople, all of whom provided their services free of charge. Robbie Cousins reports.

H

eaded up by project managers KMCS, the core project team on the refurbishment of Focus Ireland’s head office in Dublin 8 included MOLA Architecture; Ethos Engineering; fire safety engineer Maurice Johnson & Partners; structural engineer Barrett Mahony; sustainability consultant Meehan Green; and main contractor T&I Fitouts.

PROJECT BACKGROUND

Following a Focus Ireland presentation at an industry event in 2018, Nigel Spence, Managing Director, KMCS, and Fiona Mullally, Business Development Director, met with Aisling Nolan, Head of Partnerships & Philanthropy, Focus Ireland, to see if there was a way in which the project and cost management consultant could use

Amy Carr, Director of Fundraising, Focus Ireland; Pat Dennigan, CEO, Focus Ireland; Sr Stanislaus Kennedy, President, Focus Ireland; Nigel Spence, Managing Director, KMCS; Fiona Mullally, Business Development Director, KMCS; Ralph Bingham, Director, MOLA Architecture; and Aisling Nolan, Head of Partnerships & Philanthropy, Focus Ireland. its expertise to support the homelessness charity.

“Following this meeting, Focus Ireland asked if we would look at their accommodation buildings and suggest interventions that could be made to make them more comfortable and user-friendly for customers,” explains Fiona Mullally. “With two of our regular project collaborators, MOLA Architecture and Maurice Johnson & Partners, we assessed one of Focus Ireland’s buildings for architectural and fire safety concerns and devised a standard specification that they could present to main contractors to use to make premises fit for purpose.”

In 2019, KMCS, MOLA Architecture and

Maurice Johnson assessed Focus Ireland’s head offices on High Street, Dublin 8. This survey revealed that the building needed an urgent and complete refurbishment to make it fit for purpose and more comfortable for staff, customers, donors and supporters.

“The building was in a very poor state of repair and needed vast upgrading,” Fiona Mullally explains. “Focus Ireland’s commitment to providing services to their customers meant that over the years, they spent the absolute minimum on maintaining the building. The brief was to ensure that the building was brought back to full health and safety compliance in the first instance and then provide a fit for purpose space for staff to carry out their incredible work.

irishconstructionnews 25 December 2021

CASE STUDY

The first and second floors are mainly open plan off ices. on a floor by floor basis,” Mullally adds.

“T&I Fitouts stepped up and offered to project manage the full fit-out, as they had the resources and specialist subcontracting expertise to deliver the project more efficiently than would be the case if the project was split between a number of main contractors.”

The project team intended to meet all of Focus Ireland’s requirements but also to provide them with an easily maintainable building that was a comfortable place for staff to work and for clients to use.

With a project team on board, plans were put in place to start the work in March 2020.

But the Covid-19 shutdown of March 2020 resulted in the project being put on hold.

THE WORKS

The Focus Ireland off ices are dotted with small meeting spaces.

The building also needed to provide a safe, private space for Focus Ireland’s staff to meet with customers to discuss their needs and with donors to discuss programme plans,” Fiona Mullally continues. “At no stage did Focus Ireland ask for anything frivolous like a nice canteen for themselves, for instance.

Everything was customer and service driven.

“We proposed to put together a team to carry out this refurbishment work and proceeded to this end with the ask that all collaborators provide their services and materials pro bono,” Fiona Mullally

26 irishconstructionnews December 2021

continues. “The response to the request was overwhelming, with everyone we asked coming on board straight away.’’

THE PROJECT TEAM

At that stage, in addition to MOLA Architects and Maurice Johnson & Partners, mechanical and electrical engineers Ethos Engineering and Barrett Mahony came on board.

“We then met with several fit-out contractors that we regularly work with, looking to split the main contracting job

It would be just over a year before the project got back on track, with the T&I Fitouts project team eventually getting on site in April 2021. However, the extra year meant that another important collaborator, sustainability consultant Meehan Green, was able to join the team.

“When initially planning the project, we had resolved to recycle, reuse and repurpose all materials used on the project,” explains Fiona Mullally. “When Meehan Green came on board, this brought the project to a new level of sustainability. They analysed all site movements and materials sources.

They measured the environmental impact of the project, which ultimately recorded a CO2 emissions reduction of 35% against a standard project of this type, despite having workers travelling to site separately in line with Covid-19 guidelines.”

Cathal Heneghan, Sustainability Engineer, Meehan Green, explains that the consultant’s role was to monitor and report on the project’s embodied carbon savings.

CASE STUDY “The project team made my work easier than usual,” explains Cathal Heneghan.

“We had workshops with the design and construction team and identified where the savings were to be made. We then took this data and modelled the carbon savings.

“Meehan Green strongly believes in the Focus Ireland mission, and we were grateful to be associated with the overall effort that went into this project,” he adds.

As already pointed out, the embodied carbon study demonstrated that a 35% carbon saving was achieved with the reusing and upcycling of materials across the project.

MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL FIT-OUT

Paul Tighe, Director, Urbanism, Ethos Engineering, explains that as the mechanical and electrical design consultants on the project, Ethos designed mechanical systems that included new heating, ventilation, air conditioning, water services and drainage for the building. On the electrical side, Ethos designed new power, telecoms, lighting, and fire alarm systems. It was also involved in the upgrading of the building’s passenger lift.

Paul Tighe comments. “We attended regular design team meetings and contractor meetings once the project went to site. We also liaised closely with the client to ensure that our designs met their needs.”

Speaking about what the project meant to the Ethos team, Tighe adds: “Office fit-out projects sit nicely within our area of expertise, so this project suited our team.

The best part of this project, which differed from other office fit-outs, was the industry engagement, where services, components and equipment that we designed were donated free to the project. In some instances, we tailored our M&E designs to incorporate either new or recycled products from other projects. These included stripped out works from new Cat A installations that would otherwise have gone straight to landfill. It should be noted that in no way have the functions or efficiency of operations of the M&E systems been compromised at all by reusing components.”

MAIN CONTRACTOR

Dave Merriman, Managing Director, T&I Fitouts, says when T&I proposed the project to their specialist subcontractors and supply chain, all got on board with great enthusiasm.

Before any fit-out work was done, T&I Fitouts stripped the building back to a grey box, so a complete mechanical, electrical, fire safety, and insulation fit-out could be completed. With services installed, the T&I Fitout team was able to start the fit-out of the four-floor building.

“Having spent most of the previous year working from the comfort of our own homes,” Dave Merriman comments, “there

The ground floor comprises a high-spec reception, meeting rooms and customer-facing rooms. was an even greater appreciation of the massively challenging and essential work that Focus Ireland does. We all wanted to give Focus Ireland a premises that would not only enable them to better deliver services to those who are homeless or are at risk of becoming homeless but also would be comfortable for staff and volunteers to work in, be easily maintained and be of a specification that would match any high-end offices operating in Dublin at this time. All of our people and specialist subcontracting team were delighted to be involved in this project at that time and to use our specialist expertise to support the invaluable work of Focus Ireland.”

Merriman continues: “We put a strong team in place. This team was headed up by our contracts manager Phil Breen and site manager Brian Whelan. We treated it like any other project. The only difference was that we had a wider range of subcontractors on the job, which added to the complexity of managing the work.

“On a normal job, we would place a package for one element of the job with a specialist subcontractor. But on this one, we might have three subcontractors supplying one element of the job, and they worked alongside each other. Any sense of rivalry was put to one side, as all the subcontractors worked together to get the job done. It was great to see competitors come together in this way to deliver the job.”

He adds: “Everyone gave 100% with no corners cut. Materials and furniture were saved from going to landfill, sourced from long-term storage or from left-overs on other sites, but all finishes are of the highest quality and equal to anything seen in any high-spec office fit-out in Dublin.”

The original layout comprised a series of small rooms embedded across the four-floor

“All finishes are of the highest quality and equal to anything seen in any high-spec office fit-out in Dublin.”

Dave Merriman, Managing Director, T&I Fitouts.

Scan QR code to see project video

irishconstructionnews 27 December 2021

CASE STUDY customers and donors, conduct research and complete critical work to support those experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

CLIENT REACTION

Commenting on the refurbishment, Focus Ireland’s Head of Partnerships & Philanthropy Aisling Nolan said: “When we all think about ending homelessness in Ireland and the work that needs to be done, the renovation of this building and the dedication of the teams involved are moving us a step further on this journey. A massive thank you to everyone that did this work.

You have changed Focus Ireland, and you are now a part of our team forever.”

The last word on the development must go to Sister Stanislaus Kennedy, founder and Life President, Focus Ireland, who, on seeing the new offices, said: “I would like to say a big thank you to all the people involved in this project. I could not believe my eyes when I was taken around the building. It is so fabulous and artistic. It was a huge surprise for everyone to come back to, as it transformed their way of working.”

Breakout space with sofas and chairs with room for about 30 people, where they can have informal staff meetings and conduct workshops. building. There were no proper meeting rooms and or even a defined canteen space.

“It was a complicated job,” Dave Merriman expains.“We had to fit out the building to suit the materials that were available to use, whether that be a certain type of carpet, flooring, screening, etc. We sourced products from clients, subcontractors and suppliers.

We recycled, reused and upcycled materials from other sites. Stuff that might normally be sent to waste was rejuvenated and incorporated into the scheme.”

PROJECT HANDOVER

The project took 14 weeks to complete and was handed over in July 2021.

The ground floor now comprises a high-spec reception, meeting rooms and customer-facing rooms. There is also a breakout space with sofas and chairs with room for about 30 people, where they can have informal staff meetings, conduct workshops and meet with local community stakeholders.

The first and second floors are mainly open plan offices with more breakout meeting spaces and staff canteen facilities.

The fourth floor has an open plan space with meeting rooms and a senior management team suite of offices.

Dave Merriman explains: “We installed new M&E services, partitions, acoustic panels, ceilings, flooring, joinery and furnishings across all floors. This was all down to the incredible generosity of our subcontractors. There was no element overlooked. The overall job is stunning.

28 irishconstructionnews December 2021

Every floor has feature graphics and acoustic interventions. The comfort of those using the spaces was foremost in everyone’s minds during the project.”

ARCHITECTS

Ralph Bingham, Director, MOLA Architecture, says that Focus Ireland is tirelessly providing essential emergency services to the most vulnerable in our society.

“We in MOLA Architecture were delighted to have provided support to this wonderful agency through the design and construction delivery of their newly refurbished offices on High Street. Focus Ireland has operated from its headquarters for many years under suboptimal and over-crowded conditions, with no working lift, poor storage and within an outdated workplace environment. Through workshops with the Focus Ireland team, we devised a new working model to meet their operational, marketing and front of house needs.

“Focus Ireland was a wonderful client to work with, always engaged in the brief, enthusiastic about the project and pro-active in its delivery. As a team, we collectively used our contacts within the industry to support the project through supply and services donations, providing a high-quality fit-out with minimal cost.”

FOCUS IRELAND

Focus Ireland’s new offices now house over 100 support staff. They have essential space for frontline teams to have meetings with

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CASE STUDY The works included the provision of a new reception area and treatment rooms.

MJ C larke com ple tes refurbishment works at R o y a l V ic to ria E y e & E a r Hos p ita l MJ Clarke & Sons’ refurbishment works at the Royal Victoria Eye & Ear Hospital were completed under strict Covid-19 guidelines, but also at a time when building materials costs were increasing at an unprecedented rate.

I

n January 2021, MJ Clarke & Sons was contracted for the reconfiguration, refurbishment and modernisation of the Emergency Department and adjoining Radiology Department at the Royal Victoria Eye & Ear Hospital, Adelaide Road, Dublin.

THE BRIEF

The brief comprised the improvement of the entrance area to these two departments, provision of a new reception and waiting area for both departments, new triage, secure drugs room, treatment rooms, ENT treatment rooms and telehealth room.

In addition, the contract also covered the provision of a new coffee dock, nurses’ station, and office area.

THE WORKS

All mechanical and electrical services were replaced and upgraded, a new services and communications room provided, and the existing services room refurbished and upgraded. Roof upgrade works consisted of the installation of a new fall arrest system, access ladder, and associated roof works to facilitate a new mechanical ventilation and heat recovery plant at roof level.

32 irishconstructionnews December 2021

The contract also covered enabling works, demolitions, floor works, wall works and ceiling works.

PROJECT CHALLENGES

MJ Clarke had to adhere to strict delivery dates on the programme and brought in a large team of specialist subcontractors and suppliers.

By the time the team was on site, there was already a strict Covid-19 Standard Operating Procedure in place that all of Clarke’s teams were operating under. But there was also the additional challenges of local labour shortages, a worldwide shortage of materials and massive hikes in materials prices.

MJ Clarke project manager Mattie Nelson explains how the team addressed these challenges: “Once the site opened, every person was fully aware of what was required of them under the Covid-19 guidelines. As much of the sector was shut down in early 2021, all of our teams were delighted to be on site and stuck rigidly to the rules. Our site guidelines included social distancing, mask-wearing, standard work protocols and dividing up the project into safe working areas.”

CASE STUDY Entrance works in progress. These included a new ramp and handrails, with sliding doors added at a later date.

Department waiting area.

Roof upgrade works included the installation of a new fall arrest system, and works to facilitate a new mechanical ventilation and heat recovery plant at roof level.

The biggest challenge was keeping personnel and hospital staff safe during various stages of the work. To do this, Clarkes adhered to all H&S guidelines and were able to keep to project deadlines.

“Although we were given the existing A&E section as our separate site,” Nelson continues, “We had to work within a shared environment with both hospital staff and members of the public/

patients. As we were working in a live hospital environment, we also had to be highly aware of the risk of contracting Aspergillus (A bacterial disease that affects persons with poor immune systems).

We managed this through inductions, including the CIF Covid-19 online induction programme, monitoring staff and having sanitising stations and signage erected throughout the site.

“We also continually liaised with hospital management to ensure that we did not encroach on hospital activities.”

MJ Clarke project director John Clarke explains that in addition to operating under a Covid-19 Standard Operating Procedure, the project also suffered substantial delays with the delivery of materials due to Covid-19 and Brexit impacts.

“This made it extremely difficult to maintain the programme,” explains Clarke. “However, the design team and client understood the difficulties, and the on-site team were exceptional in how they dealt with all that was thrown at them.”

John Clarke says that everyone is very proud of how the project went.

“Despite all that happened, we couldn’t have asked for a better outcome. The construction team were great and made a very good impression on the design team and client.”

“Any refurbishment and upgrading are challenging at the best of times, but the added pressure of working in a live hospital environment with Covid-19 restrictions made this project much more complex.

CLIENT RESPONSE

Commentating on the project, Caroline Delahunty, Acting Chief Operations Officer, Royal Victoria Eye & Ear Hospital, says that she was acutely aware of the tight timeframe for completion and that there was no potential to extend the end date for the programme.

“The contractors and their subcontractors worked in tandem to ensure that the programme ran smoothly, and the identified potential problems in advance to avoid any delays in completion,” Caroline Delahunty comments. “The project manager Mattie Nelson was a pleasure to work with at all times. I was particularly impressed with the team at large with their professionalism, quality of work, and consistent communication throughout the programme.”

irishconstructionnews 33 December 2021

CASE STUDY

THE ROYAL VICTORIA EYE & EAR HOSPITAL

New treatment rooms.

The Royal Victoria Eye & Ear Hospital on Adelaide Road, Dublin, was established in 1895 following the amalgamation of the National Eye Hospital (founded in 1814 by Isaac Ryall) and St Mark’s Ophthalmic Hospital for Diseases of the Eye and Ear (founded

by Sir William Wilde [Oscar Wilde’s father] in 1844).

It is the only stand-alone hospital in ophthalmology and otolaryngology in Ireland and is a member of the World Association of Eye Hospitals (WAEH).

The hospital was designed by architects Carroll & Batchelor, and the symmetrical building features Queen Anne style architecture.

Doctor Kathleen Lynn became the first female doctor to work in the hospital when she was appointed in 1910. She became an activist and politician noted for her involvement in the 1916 Easter Rising

PROJECT SUMMARY Department reception space.

Project: Works to Emergency and Radiology Departments at Royal Victoria Eye & Ear Hospital Location: Adelaide Road, Dublin 2 Sector : Medical Budget: €1.4m Start Date: April 2021 Completion Date: August 2021 Health & Safety Record: Accident-Free

PROJECT TEAM

Caroline Delahunty, Acting Chief Operations Off icer, Royal Victoria Eye & Ear Hospital.

MJ CLARKE CURRENT WORKS

MJ Clarke & Sons Ltd is currently pricing several significant projects, including medical facilities and hospitals.

John Clarke concludes by saying: “Our work on the Royal Victoria Eye & Ear Hospital showed our construction and management capabilities in the healthcare environment, and the success of the project has enabled us to make further substantial inroads into the medical facilities sector.”

34 irishconstructionnews December 2021

Main Contractor : MJ Clarke & Sons Ltd Quantity Surveyor : Michael Nolan Project Director : John Clarke Project Manager (MJ Clarke): Mattie Nelson Architect: Reddy Architecture + Urbanism Project Manager : Interactive Project Managers Limited C&S Engineer : O’Connor Sutton Cronin M&E Engineer : JV Tierney Fire Consultant: McCartney Smyth Quantity Surveyor : Deasy Walley Partnership Health & Safety: DCON Safety Consultants Subcontractors: L Redmond Electrical, PJ Duff y Mechanical, Boyne Park Interiors, John Lynch Flooring, KCC Doors, Winco, Breff ni Mechanical, Jade Metal, Groundform, Skyway, Flamestop, Martin Tucker Decorators.

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OPI NION

T h e e ff e c t o f n o t r e s p o n d in g t o a c la im f o r p a y m e n t under a construc tion contrac t and the consequences HENRY HATHAWAY writes that construction companies need to revisit their payment procedures as payers now must respond to payee payment claims or applications for payment, or amounts claimed for could become payable in full regardless of the what of the actual application value is.

T

his article concerns payment in construction and the recent development in the courts of Ireland. While the contents of this article do not focus on the potential impact overall of the recent judgement of Aakon Construction Services Limited v Pure Fitout Associated Limited [IEHC] 562, it intends to set out what the practical ramifications are and how they will invariably apply to every entity that is under a payment mechanism and caught by the Construction Contracts Act 2013 (the Act). This article does not deal with all of the judgement itself; it seeks at this point to raise the issue of what the adjudication (which was subject of the enforcement) decided and how all construction companies should be aware of the process that led to that adjudication decision.

In summary, an adjudication decision has been upheld that concerned the principle that if a payment claim notice is deemed to have been made validly and is not met with the appropriate response to that payment claim notice within the strict timeframes, then by default and where fraud is absent, those amounts may become payable in full, regardless of what the true value of the applied sum was. This is a draconian position and is derived entirely through procedure rather than merit.

In short, this ruling means that every construction contract is to have an adequate payment mechanism, and if not, terms will be implied to supplement those payment provisions. Essentially, what this case concerns is where an application for payment by the payee is submitted, it must be met and addressed with what the payer intends to pay and the basis of calculation as a minimum. Either under the contract or implied provisions, this is a strict timeline. Note that there are tests in respect of what a basis of calculation is to be also presented.

BACKGROUND

The question then becomes this, what if the application or claim for payment is not addressed or responded to within the given timeframe or at all? This very question was raised in a case that occurred in 2013 in the UK and became famous (or infamous). It was called ISG Construction Limited v Seevic College [2014] EWHC 4007. In summary, in that case, it was decided that where a default payment notice was not met with a valid pay less notice by the given timeline, then the full amounts become payable. This is regardless

36 irishconstructionnews December 2021

Henry Hathaway, Principal, Henry Hathaway Solicitors. of whether or not the stated sum reflects the true value of the work undertaken. It was a procedural point, and the merits of the value were not relevant.

This judgment commenced a whole genre of adjudications and became known colloquially as “smash and grab” adjudications, though that term itself has not been appreciated. The theory is straightforward, had the payer intended to pay less than the amount applied for or became due under the payment mechanism, then they had every right and opportunity to do so. The fact that they did not then must mean that they agreed that those sums would become payable. Practically, this may not be the case. However, again, it is a procedural point rather than one of merit.

This launched a number of adjudications and indeed a number of cases in the following years that then attempted to address what was a draconian but evidential procedural point of law. Eventually, in Grove Developments Limited v S&T (UK) Limited [2018] EWCA Civ 2448; [2018] 181 ConLR 66, the Court of Appeal did address the point to set out that even though the amounts by procedural

OPI NION default did become due, that the paying party having paid those sums decided could then re-adjudicate on the true value.

would apply, even if there has been a subsequent adjustment in a later payment cycle.

IS THIS NEW GROUND FOR IRISH CONSTRUCTION?

REVISIT YOUR COMPANY PROCEDURES

I have spent a number of years in practice in London and have many such cases within my portfolio. It was only a matter of time before this issue would come to the fore in Ireland, and we have been updating our clients continuously through training, lectures and seminars.

This may well be new ground in Ireland. However, it is a ground that has been well-trodden in the UK and is very straightforward to address. There is a very real prospect now that there will be numerous adjudications following this principle.

VALID PAYMENT CLAIMS AND TIMELY RESPONSES

Key to this principle is the application for payment or claim for payment. The parties should be aware that in the first instance, that there must be a valid claim for payment under the contract or a compliant one under the provisions of the Act or any implied term.

This became the subject of numerous reported cases in the years following ISG v Seevic in the UK. This is where a payment schedule may become useful, but do ensure that there is an adequate mechanism to provide payment in the contract in any event as problems arise if such a payment schedule concludes prior to the works being complete, through delays or otherwise. Understand that the dates are key and that little sympathy will be provided if those dates are not applied correctly.

Another issue is now raised. What is the effect where a pay-less notice/notice in response is not issued in a previous cycle, but then the value is corrected in the subsequent payment cycle and certificates?

Going on the current case law, it would appear that each payment cycle is treated uniquely and that such an argument as set out above

It is now time to revisit procedures in every construction company and to inform and involve all of those employed in payments or applications/claims for payments. What do the provisions of each contract say, and when are the applicable dates in order to give effect to those payment provisions?

Every response to a claim for payment in a construction operation must not only be in time, it must be in the correct format and set out how much is to be paid and the basis of the calculation. Parties would do well to ensure that there is an agreement at the time of forming the contract so as to ensure the format and presentation of all notices required under the payment mechanisms are agreed.

Henry Hathaway originally qualified as a civil/structural engineer from Trinity College Dublin and practised in the construction industry for 12 years prior to becoming a solicitor specialising in construction law. He also is a partner of a law firm Shemmings Hathaway LLP in London as well as being the principal in the Irish practice Henry Hathaway Solicitors. He specialises in both contentious and non-contentious construction-related matters and places a particular emphasis on providing training and to construction companies to advance dispute avoidance. To learn more, email Henry.hathaway@hathawaysolicitors.ie Disclaimer: This content is provided for information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. It is provided to present information to the broader construction industry and provide awareness. Independent legal advice should always be sought prior to application, and no solicitor/client relationship is formed, and no duty of care nor liability arises from any of the contents of this article.

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SECTOR F OCUS

Completed module being dispatched from Vision Built’s Tubbercurry facility.

O FF-SITE SPEC IALIST V I S I O N B U I LT T R I P L E S R E V ENUE IN 2021

Vision Built Managing Director BRIAN KENNEDY speaks to Barry McCall about the rapid changes in the market that have brought about a much more widespread appreciation for the benefits of off-site construction.

I

n Ireland, modern methods of construction (MMC) have been a little slow to take off, but that that is changing, says Brian Kennedy, Managing Director of off-site fabrication specialist Vision Built.

The company, which produces a range of innovative building structures for Ireland and the UK at its manufacturing facilities in Oranmore, Co Galway, and Tubbercurry, Co Sligo, has witnessed some quite profound changes in the market over the past 18 months.

“Covid-19 brought about so much change in the market in the past 18 months,” Brian Kennedy notes. “Part of that change was Brexitrelated, but a big part of it was due to Covid-19. The industry was on the cusp of change anyway due to the shortage of trades on the one hand and an increase in volume output on the other.”

That, in turn, has brought about an increase in interest in MMC and off-site fabrication. “There has been a lack of trades to meet demand in the residential market in particular. That led to a huge increase in interest for off-site methods for low-rise apartments.”

Other forces were at work as well.

“Other critical factors came into play, such as the growth in sectors like pharma, data centres, healthcare, and education. There was keen interest in off-site construction due to its speed and the volumes required. We saw significant growth in the market because of that, and we increased our capacity to meet it.”

MMC CHALLENGES

Kennedy says that there have been challenges, particularly in relation to the supply of materials over the past 12 months.

38 irishconstructionnews December 2021

Brian Kennedy, Managing Director, Vision Built.

“Our business had to forward purchase and create large stocks of many of our core materials to ensure there were no delays to our projects.”

The Brexit challenge manifested itself more in relation to administrative issues, such as customs declarations, and this resulted in some delays, which also had a knock-on effect on construction activity. On the other hand, Vision Built was able to continue operating through the lockdowns.

“We were fortunate to be able to continue manufacturing

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2D panelised assembly line at Vision Built’s Oranmore facility.

are now able to supply full volumetric buildings for the education and healthcare sectors, and we also see a future pipeline in data centre and pharma projects. We have already won a number of contracts on the back of our recent education projects.”

Growth has been truly impressive.

“We tripled revenue and grew employment from 25 to 60 people,” he continues. “This was in line with demand in the home market. A lot of our new business in 2020 was in Ireland. For the previous 10 years, the majority of our business was in the UK, where there has been very strong demand for MMC for a long time.”

UK projects have included a number of hotels and commercial developments as well as novel rooftop extensions to existing buildings.

“There is a lot of interest in building up in the UK, and our lightweight modular units are ideally suited to that.”

3D volumetric assembly. through the pandemic,” Brian Kennedy continues. “During the first shutdown, we were involved in a number of essential projects that were part of global supply chains, so were able to continue production.”

Kennedy describes the past 12 to 18 months as an extraordinary period for Vision Built. “There was strong growth in demand for offsite fabrication. We already had a strategic plan to grow our capacity.

We had expanded our 2D panelised business for the growing market in low-rise residential building up to 10 storeys to meet housing demand. We also saw opportunities in the market to grow our 3D volumetric modular business in Ireland.”

This move saw Vision Built win a number of contracts for volumetric modular schools for the Department of Education.

“The light-gauge steel panels were manufactured in our Oranmore facility and then assembled in our new 100,000 sq-foot factory in Tubbercurry, where there was over 75% of the work completed off site,” he explains.

THREE-FOLD GROWTH

“That has opened up new markets for us,” continues Kennedy. “We

REDUCING LEAD TIMES AND DELAYS

Vision Built has a unique offering with its manufacturing and assembly capability. The business manufactures its own light-gauge steel for both panelised and volumetric units, which allows the company to have direct control over the manufacturing of its core product. This advantage reduces lead times and de-risks projects from third-party delays.

In addition, the 100,000 sq-foot Tubbercurry facility includes an innovation space for the creation of prototypes, test assemblies and mock-ups.

“The additional factory space allows us to grow our product offering while producing for large-scale, high-profile projects for national and international markets. With over 75% of the work complete in our west of Ireland factory, we are creating local employment for construction trades and upskilling local nonconstruction-related labour to meet the demand,” says Kennedy

BROAD CUSTOMER BASE

Vision Built also offers services to other contractors.

“We work with many different contractors and developers across a range of sectors,” says Brian Kennedy. “We supply direct

irishconstructionnews 39 December 2021

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“We are now able to supply full volumetric buildings for the education and healthcare sectors, and we also see a future pipeline in data centre and pharma projects.”

to government bodies like the HSE, the OPW and the Department of Education. Along with our turn-key offering, we can design, manufacture and install our products with other contractors bringing in follow on trades to complete the fit-out.”

DIGITAL TWIN TECHNOLOGY

The other driver behind the increased interest in off-site construction is technology development.

“MMC is not a new phenomenon,” Kennedy points out. “It’s been around for years, but we haven’t seen huge growth, particularly in Ireland. The difference now is the tools and knowledge we have.

Digital twin technology is critical to its success. It doesn’t start in the factory. It starts with the design concept and moves on from there.

Digital twin technology means that all the challenges and problems are understood and resolved before manufacturing begins.”

And the benefits are clear.

“It ensures high quality and much greater productivity, and fewer workers are required on site. Having units built at ground level in a controlled environment and lifted into place later is much more efficient and safer. The beauty of light-gauge steel production is the incredibly accurate automated manufacturing process. With a focus on quality in design, the automated process allows accurate manufacturing and assembly due to the rigid tolerances achieved with the product. These are the reasons why the time for MMC is now.”

FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES

Automated framing machines.

2D panelised loading area.

40 irishconstructionnews December 2021

Looking to the future, Brian Kennedy sees continued high growth in Ireland, the UK and Europe for MMC. However, he believes more needs to be done on standardisation in order to aid exports and the use of the technology across different sectors. This is required particularly in the residential market to meet the scale of delivery needed for the next decade.

“Everyone will benefit from that, not just the construction industry. It’s a very exciting space to be in, and this is a fantastic time for Vision Built,” he concludes. “We are very excited about the quality and innovation our team are bringing to the market, and the future looks very bright,” Brian Kennedy concludes.

irishconstructionnews 41 December 2021

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Collen Construction’s innovative safety programmes encourage full worker engagement and the taking of greater personal responsibility.

JOE O’DWYER, Health & Safety Manager, Collen, outlines how the contractor’s “Creating Safer Sites” programme fits with furthering its worker safety philosophy.

Joe O’Dwyer, Health & Safety Manager, Collen.

COLLEN CONSTR UC TION – C R E AT IN G C S A F E R S IT E S ollen is an eighth-generation, family-owned business founded in 1810 that delivers complex projects in Ireland and Europe. We currently employ 370 people who are our greatest assets. In line with our ongoing growth plans for this team, we constantly work to enhance our robust safety ethos.

On 17 September 2021, Collen launched our “Creating Safer Sites” programme at Croke Park. This event brought together Collen’s senior leadership teams from Ireland, Sweden and Germany, who were deeply engaged in thought-provoking and, at times, confronting conversations on what it will take to create the step change in safety and wellbeing that Collen is committed to and furthering the core objective of the new “Collen Way”, that people go home every day feeling in better shape for having worked at Collen.

BACKGROUND

Collen operates a robust occupational health and safety management system (OHSMS), which was certified to ISO 45001 in April 2018. The company has been accredited with an “A” rating from Safe-T-Cert for the past nine consecutive years. An OHSMS translates the organisation’s intentions to prevent incidents in a systematic and ongoing set of processes that reinforces a commitment to proactively improving

42 irishconstructionnews December 2021

occupational health and safety (OHS) performance. Collen is committed to constantly strive for safety innovation and improvement. This led us to develop the Creating Safer Sites programme, a culture change programme designed to create a step-change in safety and wellbeing that is sustainable over time.

WHERE COLLEN WANTS TO BE

The core objective of Creating Safer Sites is to establish an environment where all people on sites go home safe every day and feel in better shape for having worked at Collen. To achieve this objective, Collen is creating a mindset for safety that is positive and proactive, ensures that there is no gap in our safety performance, embeds our safety values and ensures that they are visibly lived across the organisation. Collen also wants to develop a culture where all management and the workforce are committed to the same safety vision of everyone going home safely every day.

HOW IT WILL WORK

Over the next 12 months, the Creating Safer Sites programme will engage Collen worker, subcontractor and supply chain site teams in a transformational process through a series of engagement and skills workshops for all levels of leadership. Collen will provide on-site support to embed new practices, individual leadership development of senior leaders, and create a body of internal field coaches to ensure the sustainability of the intended changes.

There are three critical elements of the transformational process: • Transform thinking – Transform the way people think about safety • Transform leaders – Support teams and individuals in creating and sustaining a positive safety culture and mindset • Transform capabilities – Develop the skills and abilities necessary to support and spread new actions.

These changes will be achieved by developing leadership teams, conducting

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Attending the Creating Safer Sites event in Croke Park , (L to r): John Groome, Willie Loughnane, John Sweeney, David Lee and Jack Collen.

Rebecca Reilly and Mick Kavanagh at the Creating Safer Sites event in Croke Park .

The Creating Safer Sites event in Croke Park included online engagement with Collen teams across Europe.

Attending the Creating Safer Sites event in Croke Park , (L to r): Rebecca Reilly, Derek McCaffery, Willie Loughnane, David Lee and Liam Flynn.

safety culture reviews, one-to-one coaching of key safety leaders and adopting a top-down/bottom-up implementation of engagement style and skill-building workshops. Partnering with our supply chain and having them committed to Creating Safer Sites is critical to the effectiveness and success of the programme.

HOW DO WE GET THERE?

Collen intends to focus on our safety culture, which means a focus on our people. We will explore how our people think and act for safety – their attitude and their behaviour, focus on engagement and communication, and build a belief that our people can work every day without an injury, develop the key skills, capabilities, and practices to create and sustain the culture we want.

SAFET Y LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

An integral part of doing things the New Collen Way includes safety leadership development. Key components include: • Accept at a senior level that they should be pushing the safety culture on site and not be relying on higher-level inputs • Have mentoring of younger, less experienced members of teams within Collen by the more experienced members of their teams • Instil a belief that it is possible and move from a “have-to” to a “want-to” mentality.

“Our core objective of Creating Safer Sites is to establish an environment where all people on sites go home safe every day and feel in better shape for having worked at Collen” • A stage-gate approach to check in on how our teams are doing and ensure that they remain on course with our ultimate objectives • Strive to achieve no incidents, no accidents, no long-term illness (LTI’s), no reportables and no first-aids

• • • •

throughout the complete life cycle of a project, irrespective of size, having the same outcome and lending to a better working environment for all personnel concerned Achieve the statement that everyone went home unhurt from the working day for the complete project lifecycle.

People step up/create leaders at all levels Be mindful of the statement “Our relationship to safety is the greatest motivator for compliance” Have a culture of accountability rather than blame.

INTENDED OUTCOMES

Collen’s intended outcomes include: • Achieve safer sites, improve morale, health, and wellbeing • Workforces accept the systems, personally understand the need for rules and are willing to follow them • Establish a sustainable environment where people at all levels look out for each other’s safety and hold each other accountable • Have a consistent safety approach across the company and our subcontractors • Engage with crews and site leaders so that people take pride, feel valued, feel safe to speak up knowing that their contribution counts, they feel part of the process and that their ideas mean something.

irishconstructionnews 43 December 2021

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TA K I N G T H E L O N G T E R M VIEW ON C LIENTS’ M&E NEEDS Mechanical services engineering contractor Riverside Mechanical Group has achieved success by providing a comprehensive service package that it is constantly developing to meet clients’ changing needs.

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iverside Mechanical Group is a family-owned mechanical services and facilities management company that was established in 2005.

Services provided include full building services, the installation of HVAC systems, design development, automated control systems, fire prevention, energy management, asset management and facilities and maintenance management.

It has an in-house building information modelling (BIM) team. Its BIM capabilities include Revit MEP coordination, clash detection services, coordination management, Point cloud to Revit, field verification, asset management, as-built drawings (2D & 3D).

Riverside’s facilities and maintenance management department also uses a custom computer-aided facilities management system, enabling it to provide innovative ways to deliver high service standards with asset management and energy management systems.

RIVERSIDE MISSION

Derek Brennan, Executive Director, Riverside Mechanical, says that the company’s mission is to provide clients with a quality service from start to finish, from pre-construction to facilities management and maintenance and to be the company of choice for clients to return to again and again.

“We want to leave clients with a lasting good impression of our teams. Our goal is to establish long-lasting relationships with our partners and clients and to continue to be the mechanical and facilities management company with whom they deal.”

START TO FINISH PACKAGE

Riverside offers a complete start to finish service package, from pre-award, coordination, installation, commissioning and sign off, followed by a tailored facilities

National Forensic Mental Health Service Hospital. maintenance and management package.

Its facilities and maintenance department, managed by Ian Mackenzie and Helen McManus, plays a key role during the final phase of construction, with the preparation of O&M’s, commissioning, and demonstrations, and then offering a tailored F&M package to ensure the integrity of the equipment during the warranty period.

MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS

Riverside was one of the first mechanical engineering companies to be certified to ISO 45001:2018, the new international standard for occupational health and safety.

This is in addition to recertification of its current standards ISO 14001 Environmental Management and ISO 9001 Quality Management System.

Tony Ptohopoulos, Managing Director, Riverside Mechanical, comments: “The ISO 45001:2018 certification was another milestone for our company and is a further example of our continued professional development and acknowledgement of the invaluable commitment from all of our teams.”

PROJECTS

Its project portfolio includes the National Forensic Mental Health Service Hospital, an 11-building state-of-the-art complex located in Portrane Demesne. Riverside completed the mechanical services installation, including chilled water, LPHW system, ventilation covering AHU’s supply and extract fans, air-conditioning, building management systems, domestic waters, fire/ smoke safety system, chiller plant, and water management systems.

Other recent projects include UCD Belfield student accommodation with an auditorium, restaurant, retail units, gymnasium, health and wellbeing centre, meeting rooms, and office accommodation.

It also worked on the National Indoor Arena Phases 1 and 2 at the National Sports Campus in Blanchardstown. Phase 1 is a

flagship facility comprising a gymnastics and athletics training centre used by Irish sporting bodies and the general public.

Phase 2 is a world-class training facility for the IRFU, GAA and FAI.

AWARDS

Riverside has won many awards over the years. In 2020, at the Irish Construction Excellence Awards, it was awarded the judges silver award for its work on the Sport Ireland National Indoor Arena Phase 1 and 2.

In 2019, at the Irish Plumbing & Heating Awards, its accolades included Large Contractor of the Year, Commercial Project of the Year (Audi South Sandyford), and Apprentice of the Year. The judges noted the long-standing relationships Riverside has with many of its clients, stating: “You only get high levels of repeat business if you do a great job. To be consistently at the top of your game takes great dedication and professionalism.”

Riverside was shortlisted for Subcontractor of the Year (Fit Out Awards 2021) and Medium Contractor of the Year (P&H Awards 2021).

HEALTH, SAFET Y AND WELLBEING

Riverside’s strength, growth and success are down to the commitment and professionalism of its valued team and the company is fully committed to the health and wellbeing of this team.

Derek Brennan concludes: “Good health is a resource that helps us all meet our goals.

We believe that the everyday choices we make can help us live healthier and happier lives. To this end, we have a full company wellness programme, the overall aim of which is to increase our knowledge about health matters and explore ways to improve physical fitness.”

To learn more about Riverside Mechanical Group, visit www.riversidemechanical.ie

irishconstructionnews 45 December 2021

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BMD & Co Balbriggan facility.

B M D & CO B UILDING IT S T E A M AS IT UNVEILS E XC ITING PLANS FOR THE FUTURE As BMD & Co is set to see a jump of 40% in its turnover this year, managing director MIKE WALSH speaks with Robbie Cousins about career opportunities with the innovative mechanical engineering contractor.

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echanical process engineering contractor BMD & Co has been in operation for almost 50 years.

Originally set up as a subsidiary of the Bowen Construction group, when the Cork building firm went into liquidation in 2011, a management team, comprising John Allen, Paul Keegan, Nicholas Lynch, Frank O’Keeffe and Mike Walsh, completed a buyout of the company, saving over 200 jobs in the process and setting BMD on a new and exciting path.

For a number of the intervening years, BMD focused its attention on securing its stability by pursuing opportunities in the southern market by providing a range of specialist mechanical and process services, primarily in the pharma and biopharma sectors.

In 2019, Israeli industrial design specialists Meptagon bought a majority stake in the company. This opened up a number of new opportunities for BMD, including expanding into the Dublin and Leinster region.

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Reflecting on the past 10 years, Mike Walsh, Managing Director, BMD & Co, says that 2019 was a significant year in the company’s development.

“We had managed to stabilise and grow the business following the management buyout in 2011, which was an awful time for the sector. In 2019, when Meptagon took a majority stake in the company, several new opportunities opened up for us, including expansion into the Dublin market.”

DUBLIN EXPANSION

BMD purchased a manufacturing facility in Balbriggan and started to build a new team headed up by Kevin McKiernan. He took up the role of director with responsibility for the Leinster region.

Walsh continues: “We purchased a 60,000 sq foot-manufacturing plant in Balbriggan in 2019 and brought in Kevin McKeirnan to build the Leinster team. We carried out a comprehensive refit, including the installation of a €2m cleanroom facility, which includes a class-10 area with

SECTOR F OCUS a massive gap in the number of people in Ireland choosing to take the apprenticeship career route.

“In Germany and eastern Europe, a trade is considered a much better career choice than in Ireland. Many of our craft employees are from eastern Europe, and they are highly skilled. I would like to see the government and the industry doing more to increase the number of young Irish people choosing the apprenticeship route. There is a whole generation of welders, pipefitters fabricators in their 30s and 40s now who do not have people coming through behind them. BMD is looking to recruit trades and craftspeople at all levels, and as with other jobs in the company, we provide opportunities to learn and rapidly advance within the BMD set up.”

extremely high levels of air extraction that exceed the standard of cleanliness required for a hospital operating theatre. This facility will be key to our growth plans in the Leinster region in the years ahead.”

Already the investment and move into the Dublin market is paying dividends for BMD, as its expected turnover of over €60m this year is up about 40% on its turnover of €43m for last year, with significant growth expected in 2022.

TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES

BMD’s core business is as a mechanical engineering contractor supplying and fitting pre-fabricated pipework for industrial facilities. Its primary objective is to do as much work as possible in its fabrication facility to minimise the number of hours and people required on sites. This objective has been dramatically helped by BMD’s early adoption of BIM and digital construction technologies as well as lean practices.

“BIM has resulted in us being able to bring very high levels of efficiency to the projects on which we are engaged,” Mike Walsh continues. “The earlier we are brought onto a project, the better. As soon as we can get data that we can use from the client, we analyse it from a fabrication and constructability point of view to find better ways to complete the sub-assembly and manufacture of elements.

We then make recommendations to the client, which in many cases have a had significant impact on reducing project costs and timing.”

OPPORTUNITIES AT BMD

BMD currently employs over 500 people across engineering professions, quantity surveying, trades, construction management, digital technologies and administration.

It is about to start adding significantly to this number with a major new recruitment campaign.

Mike Walsh explains: “We have exciting plans for the future. We see our client base and turnover continuing to grow into the future. Key to our success will be the ongoing recruitment of highly-ambitious and experienced professional engineers and engineering graduates, project managers, mechanical construction managers, quantity surveyors, BIM technicians and tradespeople.

“At BMD, we recognise that the skill and commitment of our staff are what ensures that we continue to grow. We offer very competitive remuneration packages and benefits, as well as rapid career advancement and continuous on the job learning opportunities. This has meant that we have been able to build a strong team and hold on to people.

“We are very excited to be entering this new phase of development as we look to build on our success to date and add to our

Mike Walsh, Managing Director, BMD & Co. team for the future. Anyone who takes up this opportunity to join BMD can be assured that they will face exciting challenges and have great opportunities ahead for them.”

ENGINEERING OPPORTUNITIES

BMD has a long-standing relationship with Munster Technological University and, in more recent years, TU Dublin and Trinity College in Dublin.

“The lifeblood of our company and its future is our engineering graduate intake,” Mike Walsh comments. “We have a comprehensive ongoing CPD programme for all of our professional teams, which is an essential part of ensuring that all our people are up to date with the latest BIM and digital technology advances.”

OPPORTUNITIES FOR TRADESPEOPLE

On the craft side of the business, Mike Walsh says that, unfortunately, there is still

BMD ELEVATOR PITCH

Mike Walsh is very enthusiastic about the opportunities that lie ahead for BMD and is confident that once potential recruits hear the BMD story and learn of its ambitions for the future, they will not want to pass up the opportunity of joining the BMD team.

“BMD has ambitious growth plans. We have been very successful at hiring the best people to date, looking after them in terms of the packages we offer, and providing opportunities to grow and progress. We are looking to bring in the best in the business and help them become the best that they can be at what they do. The past 10 years have been very exciting for everyone involved in BMD, but the next 10 years will be even more exciting. Anyone who takes up what BMD has to offer will be well rewarded and will play a key role in the next phase of the company’s exciting story,” he concludes.

If you would like to learn more about exciting career development opportunities at BMD & Co, email Jennifer Connery at jennifer. connery@bmd.ie

BMD’s Balbriggan cleanroom facility with class-10 area with extremely high levels of air extraction.

irishconstructionnews 47 December 2021

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Se tting up an on-site health screening program me for workers is e a s y a n d c o u ld s av e liv e s Founded in 1994, the Construction Workers Health Trust is a registered charity whose principal activity is the provision of medical examinations to building workers on site or at their place of employment.

T

he Construction Workers Health Trust (CWHT) provides an onsite health-screening service to construction workers. The service is funded through a voluntary weekly contribution of €1.50 made by workers through their pension scheme payment or by their employers. For this contribution, they will receive a biennial comprehensive 40-minute health screen from a nurse that covers blood pressure; height, weight and body mass index (BMI); cholesterol; lung function; diabetes; and any other issue that the worker chooses to raise. Generally, a nurse can screen 10 to 14 workers per day.

HEALTH SCREENING PROCESS

On average, CWHT screens 5,000 workers per annum. While, for the most part, the Irish workforce is young and healthy,

48 irishconstructionnews December 2021

issues do arise. Common problems are high cholesterol and hidden diabetes. Also, workers engaged in occupations where dust is prevalent often can have impaired lung function.

The CWHT engages a professional service provider HealthWatch Irl Ltd to deliver the on-site service. The main reason for this is that there are onerous legal and ethical requirements involved in the provision of health screening, including GDPR, training of personnel and calibration of diagnostic instruments, which a professional provider is best set up to deliver.

Brian Daly, CEO, CWHT, says that the service the Trust provides is an essential element in any health and safety manager’s toolkit, enabling them to focus on the health needs of workers in their care.

“Our nurses make life-saving and

SECTOR F OCUS provided directly to workers at the end of the screening, with further assistance provided for the worker if required.

“At the end of the screening, all test results are given to the worker on the spot, except where there is an adverse result that requires follow up by a CWHT doctor. If, for example, a worker has high blood pressure, immediate action may be required. However, for most other adverse results, a letter of referral to the worker’s general practitioner is sent to the individual within a week.”

GDPR COMPLIANCE

As all test results are covered by GDPR, no personal information is disclosed to the employer. On large sites where the number of workers exceeds 200, CWHT sometimes gives the employer a statistical analysis of the general health of the workforce, but no individuals are identified.

COSTS

The 40-minute health screen covers blood pressure; height, weight and body mass index (BMI); cholesterol; lung function; diabetes; and any other issue that the worker chooses to raise.

The cost to an employee is €1.50 per week, which many workers pay along with their pension contributions. This enables the Trust to visit sites nationwide in order to offer screening in the workplace. However, workers who are not members of the industry pension scheme or who do not pay the contribution can still get screened if time allows while the nurses are on site.

The employer’s only cost associated with CWHT health screening is the hidden cost of allowing workers one hour off with pay to visit the nurse. Employers are encouraged to take up the on-site screening to ensure that despite appearing to be outwardly healthy, a worker may be harbouring any number of hidden symptoms of underlying poor health.

The screening can also assist health and safety managers in their roles as they can receive an anonymised overview report on the numbers screened, which can be used for end of year reports.

COVID-19

Results are only provided directly to workers at the end of the screening, with further assistance provided for the worker if required. changing interventions in many workers’ lives without them having to compromise any of their privacy,” Brian Daly explains.

“Over the years since 1994, our health screening service has identified serious issues in many workers’ health, and we have

facilitated them privately to make important changes that may have saved and improved the quality of their lives.”

RESULTS

Brian Daly explains that the results are only

Talking about the impact of Covid-19, Brian Daly explains that since early 2020, while much of the on-site health and safety focus has been on tackling Covid-19, CWHT has continued to provide health screening services on sites across the country when the sector has been open.

“The CWHT, like the construction sector, was quick to act and make its service Covid19-safe for workers and nurses. Covid-19 required the Trust to suspend operations while the industry itself was closed. But when it reopened, our precautions included hand-washing and wearing facemasks. All of our nurses are vaccinated, and they are subject to the same requirements as set down for workers on sites.”

Since returning to full-time screening in June of this year, the Trust has completed assignments on sites such as Intel in Leixlip,

irishconstructionnews 49 December 2021

SECTOR F OCUS CWHT provided a special health screening for Wills Bros Ltd during National Safety Week in October 2021.

“Our nurses make life-saving and changing interventions in many workers’ lives without them having to compromise any of their privacy.”

Brian Daly, CEO, CWHT.

Designer Group in Kildare and Kiernan Steel in Longford. Many employers appreciate the hidden benefits of running not only a safe site but also a healthy site, and the screening programme becomes an essential part of their health and safety strategy.

SET UP A CWHT HEALTH SCREENING PLAN

Brian Daly says that registering with the CWHT is very straightforward.

“Any contractor who wishes to become a contributor to the Trust can do so by visiting our website www.cwht.ie and registering their workforce. There is no need to provide the names of workers; we simply require contractors to indicate the number on their payroll and pay the annual fee of €75 per worker per annum in advance. After this, the employer can call us to arrange a health screening programme on a two-year rotation.

“Employers can also decide to pay the entire contribution themselves or apportion some to the worker on say a 50-50 arrangement. If employers are operating the industry pension scheme the Construction Workers’ Pension Scheme (CWPS), they

50 irishconstructionnews December 2021

can ask the scheme to include Health Trust and Benevolent Fund contributions along with the pension deduction,” Brian Daly concludes.

The Construction Workers Health Trust is a registered charity. To learn more, phone 01 709 3070, email info@cwht.ie or visit www.cwht.ie

CASE HISTORIES HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE

DIABETES

During a Construction Workers Health Trust on-site health screening in Cork , a 44-year-old scaff older was found to have very high blood pressure and was given immediate treatment.

Although the man did not feel sick , he needed an ambulance and was transferred to the nearest accident and emergency department.

The worker in question was successfully treated and returned to work the following week , albeit with strict changes to his lifestyle.

A significant number of workers are found to be pre-diabetic each year. Some are later diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. This requires lifelong treatment but can be managed if caught early.

Undiagnosed diabetes can have very serious consequences in later life. Unfortunately, no outward symptoms are experienced, and it is only by having a biennial test that the condition can be picked up.

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D ATA C E N T R E E X P E R T E T H O S ANNO UNC ES C REATION OF 15 0 N E W J O B S

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echanical, electrical, and data centre engineering consultancy Ethos Engineering has announced plans to create 150 new jobs in Ireland in the next four years as part of its ‘Going for Growth’ national and international EMEA expansion programme, which also includes doubling its revenues to €30m by 2025.

Recruitment has already commenced for engineers and administrative staff, with the company planning for a new pipeline of work in Ireland, Germany, the United Kingdom, Netherlands, France, Switzerland, Italy, Norway, Sweden, Poland and Kenya.

The firm has restructured its business to focus on six key areas of expertise, each responsible for delivering its part of Going for Growth. The six areas are data centre design, urbanism, regional, sustainability, digital services (smart buildings) and global tech.

With its HQ in Dublin, a regional office in Galway and work sites throughout the continent, Ethos employs a team of more than 110, including 100 engineers, plus technical staff. Notably, since the start of the pandemic, the firm has hired more than 40 new staff. In addition, Ethos EMEA design work is supported and localised by its

Announcing the creation of 150 new jobs at Ethos Engineering, (L-r); Colm Devin, Executive Director; Ethos; Alison Heffernan, Head of People, Ethos; Tánaiste Leo Varadkar; Shana Singh, Head of Marketing, Ethos; Greg Hayden, CEO, Ethos; and John Coroner, Executive Director, Ethos. presence in 13 EMEA countries through its membership of the First Q network of 3,000 MEP engineers.

At the announcement, Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Leo Varadkar said: “Today’s announcement of 150 new jobs in Ireland and abroad is great news for Ethos and for the Irish construction sector which, after a really difficult period, is growing and will be in high demand for years to come.”

Ethos founder and CEO Greg Hayden said: “This major jobs creation and expansion drive comes at a time when

demand for our services has never been higher. With a focus on innovation, sustainability and digital transformation, we want to build on our reputation as one of EMEA’s leading suppliers of data centre mechanical and electrical design consultancy and sustainable, commercial and smart fit-out buildings while also leveraging our market-leading expertise at the forefront of green and environmental design solutions across all sectors of the building industry.”

Ethos Engineering was established in 2005

by Greg Hayden and executive directors John Coroner and Colm Devin.

K S N la u n c h e s s u s ta in a b ilit y c o ns ulta nc y K S N Ho riz o n

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nvestors’ demands for sustainability; environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria are among the most pressing issues confronting global financial markets. These requirements impact investment decisions in the real estate sector because they affect prospects for value appreciation, vulnerability to obsolescence, and the risk of premature devaluation.

To address these sustainability and ESG challenges, Irish-owned award-winning KSN Construction Consultants, KSN Project Management, and KSN Energy have established KSN Horizon, which will provide the practical implementation of strategic, long-term sustainable solutions to the realestate sector in Ireland and Europe.

KSN Horizon was launched with the appointment of Barry Chambers as property director and Brian Cunningham as director. KSN Horizon’s mission is to assist organisations in the real-estate sector in transitioning to a sustainable net-zero, resilient future.

Barry Chambers believes that KSN Horizon is a truly unique development for the real estate sector in Ireland and beyond.

Barry Chambers, Property Director, KSN Horizon.

“To achieve net zero for the built environment, we have a fantastic team of sustainability consultants who are supported

by an experienced group of property and construction professionals, project managers and energy assessors. Over the course of the coming year, we are planning to double the size of the team from 20 people currently.”

Commenting on the new development, Brian Cunningham says: “KSN Horizon is uniquely positioned to provide a complete end-to-end service - from initial data measurement and verification, implementation of carbon mitigation strategies, asset improvement plans, to subsequent monitoring. KSN Horizon enables us to deliver a unique service offering to our clients to comply with current and imminent regulations and to optimise market opportunities.

“We have invested heavily in resources to address current and future sustainability challenges, including training and certification, achieving ISO 9001, 14001, 27001, and 50001 accreditations, attaining BREEAM assessor status, and becoming a member of the Irish Green Building Council, cementing our position as Ireland’s gold-standard dedicated sustainability consultancy.”

irishconstructionnews 51 December 2021

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52 irishconstructionnews December 2021

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SECTOR F OCUS

J o h n P a u l C o n s t r u c t i o n gives its support to two crucial Irish charities In line with its CSR policy of supporting charities and community groups in the areas where it is working, John Paul Construction recently provided support to the Irish Wheelchair Association in Dublin and Penny Dinners in Cork.

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rish Wheelchair Association (IWA) recently celebrated the refurbishment of its facilities in the Dr Oliver Murphy Sports Centre, Clontarf, Dublin. The refurbishment was completed by John Paul Construction and gave the interior of the ground floor space a much-needed new look.

The work included installing a new reception area, new flooring and a paint upgrade of the interior area.

The sports centre at its national headquarters, which also houses the head office of IWA Sports, offers IWA members and the local community a variety of services, including an accessible gym, a full-sized sports hall for a wide range of wheelchair sports and other sports clubs.

The new look gives a warm welcome to everyone who visits.

Commenting on the refurbishment, Rosemary Keogh, CEO, IWA, said: “We at IWA are delighted that John Paul Construction came on board and completed this much-needed work at our sports centre.

Fitness is a key aspect of our members’ lives, and this work will make the centre far more accessible for them. No doubt our members will like the changes.”

John Moran, Construction Director, John Paul Construction, commented: “John Paul Construction is delighted to have had the opportunity to work on this upgrade project with the IWA, which provides such a fantastic service to their members and the community. We are proud of what we and our supply partners have achieved in delivering this project, which will have a positive impact for all members and visitors to the sports centre in Clontarf. A big thanks must go out to all of our supply partners who assisted with the project; MCA Architects, Kirby Electrical, Timlin Demolition, Aston Crean Flooring, Ian Forde Painting

(L to r): Paralympian Kerrie Leonard; John Moran, Construction Director, John Paul Construction; Adrian O’ Donoghue, IWA Sport Board Member; Rosemary Keogh CEO, Irish Wheelchair Association; Paralympian Britney Arendse; and Nicky Hamill, Director of Sport, IWA Sport; during the IWA sports centre launch at IWA headquarters in Clontarf, Dublin.

Pictured at John Paul Construction’s Broga House student accommodation site, Washington Street, Cork (L to r): Colin Crowley, Associate Director, John Paul Construction; Caitriona Twomey, Cork Penny Dinners; and Niall O’Connor, Construction Director, John Paul Construction.

Contractors, Geraghty Joinery, Errigal Contracts and McKee Carpentry.”

Nicky Hamill, Director of Sport, IWA Sport, said: “The Dr Oliver Murphy Sports Centre is a well-established sports facility in north Dublin that has played home to so many of our sports and activities for many years. I’d like to sincerely thank the team at John Paul Construction for supporting us with this much-needed upgrade and facelift.”

PENNY DINNERS

Based close to John Paul Construction’s latest Cork project Broga House student accommodation, Cork Penny Dinners is one of Cork’s oldest caring charitable organisations. Embracing the spirit of giving back to the local community, John Paul Construction donated a substantial sum to Cork Penny Dinners.

With the charity’s base located just a stone’s throw from Broga House’s Washington Street site, John Paul Construction felt it appropriate to mark

the excellent work carried out by their neighbours through the contribution.

Speaking on the company’s decision to support one of Cork’s most high profile charities, Niall O’Connor, Construction Director, John Paul Construction, said: “We were aware of the amazing work carried out by Catriona Twomey and the team at Penny Dinners, so it was a no brainer for us to show our appreciation by giving back in some small way to the community they care for 365 days a year.”

Located adjacent to Penny Dinners’ headquarters on Little Hanover Street, Broga House is one of John Paul Construction’s most high-profile projects in Cork. The project will see the transformation of the former Square Deal site into a 280-bed student accommodation and mixed-use building.

The project has created an estimated 200 jobs and is set to be completed in time for the kick-off of the 2022/23 college year.

irishconstructionnews 53 December 2021

SUSTAI NABI LIT Y

IGB C p u b lis h e s p r e lim in a r y r e c o m m e n d atio ns to d e c a r b o n is e b u ilt e nv ir o n m e nt

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The Irish Green Building Council has published a preliminary set of recommendations to address the emissions associated with Ireland’s built environment across its whole life cycle.

ccording to an initial assessment of carbon emissions associated with construction and operation of the Irish built environment, these account for approximately one third of Ireland’s emissions, almost the same as agriculture (37%). The initial assessment showed that heating, cooling and lighting our buildings account for 24% of our national emissions, with the remaining 11% being accounted for by embodied carbon. Embodied emissions result from mining, quarrying, transporting, and manufacturing building materials, in addition to constructing buildings.

CONSTRUCTION WHOLE LIFE CARBON TARGETS

While these emissions have been largely ignored to date, on “Cities, Regions and Built Environment” day at COP26 in Glasgow, the Irish Green Building Council (IGBC) published a preliminary set of recommendations to address them.

Pat Barry, CEO IGBC, comments that the inclusion of whole life carbon targets for construction in the government’s Climate Action Plan 2021 is a very positive development.

“What we need now is a clear pathway and concrete actions to reach these targets, and that’s exactly what we are trying to develop, working in close cooperation with industry and the public sector.”

IGBC PRELIMINARY RECOMMENDATIONS

Pat Barry explained that in its preliminary recommendations, the IGBC is proposing: • Carrying out a comprehensive detailed carbon modelling of the National Development Plan, including all proposed construction, new housing, renovation and infrastructure, and reconcile this with the five-year climate budgets to reach the targets of 51% reduction by 2030.

• Publishing a detailed timeline for mandating whole life carbon assessment and limits through regulation to provide certainty to industry.

• Streamlining building regulations, and

54 irishconstructionnews December 2021

Pat Barry, CEO, Irish Green Building Council.

Kathryn Meghen, CEO, RIAI.

aligning all relevant policies, and fiscal incentives to make adaptation and reuse of existing buildings easier.

• Mainstreaming innovative procurement approaches to help encourage and develop a low carbon product sector, services, and supply chain.

• Integrating low carbon design and construction skills into all relevant construction undergraduate programmes (eg, architecture, engineering, construction, and surveying).

REACTION TO RECOMMENDATIONS

Reacting to the publication of the preliminary recommendations, Deputy Eoin Ó Broin TD said: “We are in the midst of a terrible housing crisis, but we are also in a climate emergency. Interestingly, the preliminary recommendations highlight that these can be addressed together: The greenest building is often the one that already exists. Political action is hence more than ever needed to bring more vacant space back into use.”

Kathryn Meghen, CEO, RIAI, commented: “Transitioning to a net-zero built environment requires strong cooperation of all involved in the industry. While progress has been made, much more is needed to tackle whole life carbon emissions in the

Eoin Ó Broin TD, Sinn Fein Spokesperson on Housing, Local Govt & Heritage. built environment. I welcome the publication of these preliminary recommendations and look forward to working with the IGBC and other professional bodies to mobilise the industry.”

The preliminary recommendations will be reviewed and further developed through detailed thematic workshops over the next six months. All organisations interested in contributing to this process should contact the IGBC. A full list of the preliminary recommendations are available at www.igbc.ie.

SUSTAI NABI LIT Y

C a n Ir e la n d w a r m homes and cook d in n e r s w ith hydrogen?

Pictured at Gas Networks Ireland’s new hydrogen innovation facility in west Dublin, Dr Ali Ekhtiari from University College Dublin’s Energy Institute (UCDEI) and Liam Nolan, Head of Technical Development and Technical Training, Gas Networks Ireland.

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hether we will be able to warm our homes and cook our dinners with hydrogen in the future is a question that researchers from University College Dublin’s Energy Institute (UCDEI) are hoping to answer as part of a new research project to investigate the potential use of hydrogen in Irish homes.

Led by Gas Networks Ireland’s Head of Technical Development and Technical Training, Liam Nolan, together with Dr Ali Ekhtiari and Dr Eoin Syron from UCDEI, the research team is testing the operation and performance of household appliances with varying levels of hydrogen and natural gas blends.

Using the testing facilities at both UCDEI’s Integrated Energy Lab and Gas Networks Ireland’s new hydrogen innovation facility in west Dublin, which enables the safe testing of pipelines, meters and appliances off-network, the team is working to understand the full potential of hydrogen and ensure Ireland’s gas pipelines are capable of safely transporting and storing this vital carbon-free gas.

Dr Syron says that the decarbonisation of Ireland’s gas network is

essential if we are to transition to a net-zero energy system in Ireland by 2050. “This project will provide the data needed to understand how adding hydrogen to the gas network will impact the devices and appliances we use in our homes today to ensure a smooth transition with minimal cost and disruption to consumers.”

According to Gas Networks, by gradually replacing natural gas with renewable, carbon-neutral and ultimately zero-carbon gases, such as biomethane and hydrogen, Ireland can benefit from a netzero carbon gas network and reduce emissions across a number of key sectors, including those that are traditionally difficult to decarbonise, such as transport, agriculture, industry, heating and reliable power generation.

Liam Nolan comments: “Ireland has already transitioned to a cleaner gas once before, from the old town gas, which was a combination of hydrogen, carbon monoxide and methane, to natural gas in the 1980s,” Nolan says. “Like many gas-network operators around Europe, we are investigating how much hydrogen can be blended with natural gas and transported through our existing national gas pipelines. Initial indications look very promising, particularly at lower percentage blends. Our research with UCDEI will allow us to test the operation and performance of household appliances in a very safe and controlled environment.”

B o r d n a M ó n a to d e v e lo p m id la n d s l a r g e -s c a l e r e n e w a b l e e n e r g y p a r k

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he midlands region is set to receive an economic boost following the announcement that Bord na Móna is to develop Ireland’s first dedicated renewable energy business park on 3,000 hectares of its landbank in Meath, Offaly and Westmeath.

The Bord na Móna Energy Park will be developed across peatlands close to Junction 3 of the M6 motorway at Rochfortbridge, Co Westmeath. It is expected to potentially colocate 200MW+ of electricity directly beside businesses locating in the energy park. The electricity will be generated from renewable sources such as wind, solar, energy storage and green hydrogen production.

Bord na Móna says that the energy park will be attractive for industrial and highdemand energy users such as large-scale distribution facilities and data centres, as the co-located approach is more sustainable, has a lower environmental impact and is a more optimal use of grid assets.

The energy park will facilitate the reduction of energy costs and carbon emissions while guaranteeing a secure and reliable source of power for users. The availability of a 400, 220 and 110 kV grid network within or adjacent to the Bord na

Móna landbank will reduce set-up costs and eliminate the need for significant grid extension work.

Announcing the proposed development, Tom Donnellan, Chief Executive, Bord na Móna, commented, “As a climate solutions company, Bord na Móna is helping to contribute to a net-zero future by embracing new approaches to how we generate and consume energy. The proposed Bord na Móna Energy Park brings with it a whole range of solutions in

this area. It will reduce Ireland’s reliance on national grid infrastructure and will increase self-sufficiency and energy security in the country while meeting the needs of the national and regional economies. The climate emergency is the greatest challenge we face today, and the Bord na Móna Energy Park is another important step to creating a more sustainable future for Ireland.”

Bord na Móna expects to lodge a planning application for the new energy park in the next 18 to 24 months.

irishconstructionnews 55 December 2021

Our 2030 Sustainability Roadmap shows what we have achieved so far and the steps we will take in the decade ahead For more please visit www.johnsiskandson.com 56 irishconstructionnews December 2021

SUSTAI NABI LIT Y

R I A I S E T S C LIM AT E CHA LLENGE FOR ARCHITEC TS

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he Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI) has launched its 2030 Climate Challenge policy, calling for urgent action by architects and the wider construction industry to tackle the current climate emergency.

The 2030 Climate Challenge is a climate change initiative to encourage the profession and wider construction industry to achieve

net-zero whole life carbon for all new and retrofitted buildings by 2030.

The RIAI 2030 Climate Challenge asks architects to commit to four key targets: • Reduce operational energy demand by as far as possible before notional offsetting • Reduce embodied carbon by at least 40% before notional offsetting • Reduce potable water use by at least 40% • Achieve core health and wellbeing targets Speaking about the policy, RIAI President Ciaran O’Connor said: “The RIAI is delighted to launch our 2030 Climate Challenge. We are in the midst of a climate emergency, which is the biggest challenge to face our planet, people, and industry.

We need urgent action and leadership by architects and the wider construction industry. As professionals, we have solutions, and we want to play our part in addressing

this emergency and collectively rise to this challenge.

“The task is urgent, and we need to work immediately to reduce our carbon emissions in order to limit the devastating impacts of global warming. By launching this document, we are encouraging architects and our colleagues in construction to take the RIAI Climate Challenge, to evaluate the way they currently design and to make the necessary changes needed to meet the reductions and targets outlined in this document.”

The Climate Challenge document was originally developed by the Royal Institute of British Architects and adapted for Ireland by the RIAI. The 2030 Climate Challenge document can be downloaded at www.riai.ie

Report identifies key skills required to d e l i v e r c l i m a t e a c tio n p la n ta rg e t s

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he Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN) has published a report ‘Skills for Zero Carbon – The Demand for Renewable Energy, Residential Retrofit and Electric Vehicle Deployment Skills to 2030’.

This report was developed in the context of the need to urgently accelerate the transition to a zero-carbon economy, as reflected in the binding targets for emissions reduction over the next decade, and, ultimately, carbon neutrality by 2050. It outlines recommendations for consideration with regard to the overall delivery of the Climate Action Plan in that 10-year timeframe, in areas it identifies as representing zero-carbon activities: • 5GW of offshore and up to 8GW of onshore wind energy generation, • 1.5-2.5GW of solar energy generation, • The energy efficient retrofit of 500,000 homes to a minimum B2 BER, • The installation of 600,000 heat pumps, and, • The target of having 840,000 electric cars

and 95,000 commercial vehicles on Irish roads.

The report advises on the nature and quantity of the skills required by these zero-carbon sectors over the next decade.

It will help inform the broader response put in place in order to deliver on the targets set for renewable energy generation, built environment energy efficiency and sustainable transport.

The study forecasts that to deliver on the Climate Action Plan targets, employment in wind and solar energy generation will have to quickly increase to 8,000 (from a 3,000 baseline) within a number of years, and, ultimately, stand at 9,000 by 2030, while the workforce engaged in residential retrofit and heat pump installation will similarly have to ramp up quickly and increase more than fourfold (from c.4,000), to stand at over 17,000 for the remainder of the decade.

The report sets out 30 recommendations for zero-carbon economy stakeholders to ensure that the sector can deliver on the demands placed upon it over the next

decade.

These are spread across six themes: Renewable energy; Retrofit; Electric vehicles; Promotion of career pathways in zerocarbon economy activities; Alternative sources of skills supply for zero-carbon economy activities; and, Public sector programme management and carbon accounting skills.

The full Skills for Zero Carbon – The Demand for Renewable Energy, Residential Retrofit and Electric Vehicle Deployment Skills to 2030 report can be downloaded at www.egfsn.ie

irishconstructionnews 57 December 2021

PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

K ils a r a n a n n o u n c e s acquisition of Oran Precast

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ilsaran has announced the acquisition of Galway-based precast company Oran Precast.

Kilsaran Precast will now operate out of two locations, Oranmore in Galway and Kilsaran’s existing facility in Co Kildare, with the combined production servicing both the Irish and UK markets.

Kilsaran commissioned its first precast plant in early 2021, offering a full-service solution from building design and manufacture through to installation. This acquisition now gives Kilsaran the ability to provide a full complement of precast elements from walls and floors to stairs, columns, and beams.

Oran Precast’s current management team will remain and lead the combined business, with Derek Duffy becoming the managing director of Kilsaran Precast and John Dooley becoming the commercial director for the combined entity.

David and Derry McKeown, co-CEO’s, Kilsaran, said: “This investment by Kilsaran allows us to provide a complete precast solution for our customers and comes at a time when there is a significant shift in

the construction market towards offsite construction. We look forward to working with our new colleagues in Oran Precast as we integrate the two businesses for further growth and investment.”

Derek Duffy said: “We are extremely proud of how Oran Precast has evolved and grown to become one of Ireland’s leading

precast manufacturers supplying precast components to numerous high-profile projects in Ireland and the UK. I would like to thank the dedicated team in Oran Precast who have established the business to what it is today. I look forward to the growth of our combined business, Kilsaran Precast over the coming months and years.”

S K I L L K O L E A R N – DIG ITAL INDUC TIONS, ONBOARDING AND C ONTINUO US LEARNING MADE EASY

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killko has just launched its new digital inductions, onboarding and learning management system (LMS), offering Skillko Learn on its award-winning training and compliance management platform. This latest product addition to the platform aims to revolutionise the way companies within the construction and utility sectors manage their resources and training.

Skillko Learn solves the problem of spending multiple hours inducting and onboarding new starters or subcontractors, as well as making this process completely paperless, removing even further administration. Furthermore, the LMS offering allows companies to create custom eLearning courses or upload toolbox talks and send them out to their staff to complete on their mobile devices or computers.

The Skillko team has been working with its customers to build out this new offering to solve the above-mentioned problems now and into the future.

STREAMLINE ONBOARDING

Brendan Maloney, co-founder and CEO, Skillko, comments: “Skillko was developed to eliminate known problems in resource training compliance and management. Our latest product, Skillko Learn, allows businesses to streamline onboarding and inductions of new staff members and contractors, along with creating internal eLearning courses and company briefs. Skillko Learn, along with Skillko Compliance, allows a business to manage the full life cycle of resource training management and compliance specific to the construction and utility industries.”

58 irishconstructionnews December 2021

Skillko client David Sloyan, Director, Roadbridge, comments: “We have been incredibly happy with the return on investment and benefits we have seen through using the Skillko platform to date and are very excited by the benefits we are already experiencing with its latest feature release, Skillko Learn.”

This latest product release includes various benefits such as paperless staff onboarding, automatic staff profile creation, uploading custom induction videos, creating custom eLearning courses and automatic certificate creation.

Skillko Learn is now available on the Skillko platform, along with Skillko’s other product’s Skillko Compliance and Skillko Trainer.

Contact the Skillko team directly at hello@skillko.com to learn more, or register for a free demo on www.skillko.com

PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

G round force launches side -grip piling ham mer d e s ig n e d t o s a v e t im e a n d m o n e y The modular construction of the The ICE side grip hammer results in less downtime during exchange of the side-grip inserts for various profiles.

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new side-grip piling hammer that saves civil engineering contractors time and money has been launched in Ireland by specialist construction services supplier Groundforce.

The Dieseko Group ICE attachment, for which Groundforce is the sole distributor in Ireland, has already proved its worth on several jobs where it has negated the need for contractors to employ a specialist piling contractor to install long sheet piles.

Available to hire exclusively from Groundforce, the side-grip piling hammer is

robust, easy to fit and operate and can install sheet piles up to 10 metres long.

Designed to be simple, rigid and reliable, the hammer was developed from an extensive study on similar attachments as well as input from operators who best understand their requirements.

The result is a unique linear side-clamping system that gives a more efficient clamping load transfer for sheet piles and H-beams up to 330mm and casings up to 550mm.

The maximum weight of the drivable piles depends largely on the excavator, as the side clamp of the side gripper can handle profile weights of up to 7,000kg, exceeding the limit for most excavators equipped with a side gripper vibratory hammer.

Groundforce customers who have recently used the new attachment have been impressed with its capabilities.

Andrew Hatton, Project Manager, Farrans Construction, says: “The ICE side grip

hammer supplied by Groundforce allowed us to install a large cofferdam on a very restricted site on a bank on the river Lee in Cork city. Without it, we wouldn’t have been able to install the sheet piles with our own crew.”

Ryan Buckley, owner of Castworks Ltd, comments: “This is a very impressive attachment, plenty of power and very easy to operate. We used it to install 10-metre sheet piles in Wexford for John Sisk & Son, and we look forward to using it again on the next job.”

Joseph Lenihan, General Manager, Groundforce, comments: “This attachment is a game-changer for the Irish market, never before could our customers install a cofferdam themselves if the length of sheet pile exceeded 8 metres, but now they can.”

To learn more, visit www.vpgroundforce.com/ire

W a v in la u n c h e s Tr e e Ta n k solution for urban spaces

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avin has announced the launch of its innovative TreeTank solutions to support climate-resilient cities and bring nature into urban environments. The TreeTank ensures trees can be easily and effectively integrated into urban areas without disrupting vital infrastructure.

By incorporating more trees into designs, city planners and local authorities can improve local air quality, reduce the growing urban heat effect, boost biodiversity and improve wellbeing. Trees can also play a key role in urban stormwater management, reducing the volume of rainwater entering the old drainage networks of many towns and cities in Ireland.

Trees should be considered a key component of any sustainable drainage system (SuDS), however, engineers struggle with the conflict for roads and paths that require the compaction of the ground and trees that require an uncompacted growing medium to allow sufficient space for tree roots.

The planting of trees has long been a burden for those working in planning and infrastructure, with several common issues cropping up when using traditional banks or pits at the side of the road. Unpredictable growth can lead to trees damaging adjacent pavements, roads and even nearby buildings. The lack of space for tree roots to grow safely and productively also impacts trees’ health, reducing the positive impact they can have on the area.

Wavin’s new TreeTank root chamber system provides space within which the uncompacted growing medium is placed whilst providing sufficient support for pedestrian paths and walkways. The modular

The innovative Wavin TreeTank . system manufactured from 100% polypropylene with a service life of up to 50 years is adaptable to any situation. The Wavin TreeTank directs roots away from the surface and deep into the ground.

Wavin has trialled its TreeTank through several pilot projects alongside contractors and provincial authorities across Europe, and the solution is now available in Ireland.

John McPeake Technical Sales Manager, Wavin Ireland, commented: “At last, landscape architects and engineers have a real solution to accommodate trees in urban areas, and the TreeTank is another tool for SuDS drainage systems in the battle to prevent climate change.”

irishconstructionnews 59 December 2021

PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

B R OG A N GR OUP DE LIV E R S A C CE S S S O L U T I O N S FOR IRELAND PAVILION AT E XPO 2020 DUBAI

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rish family-owned Brogan Group provided access solutions to help build the Ireland Pavilion at Expo in Dubai, as well as 26 other national pavilions. The worldwide expo, which opened its gates at the start of October, sees 192 countries showcasing their nation through bespoke pavilions until 31 March 2022.

The Irish theme ‘Island of Inspiration’ was chosen to celebrate the Irish scientific, the fantastic and a global Ireland’, which Brogan Group itself is an example of, with divisions in Dublin, London, Dubai and Saudi Arabia.

BROGAN GROUP SCAFFOLDING EXPERTISE

Brogan Group used its scaffolding expertise to help construct this national ‘beacon’ designed by Office of Public Works’ architects led by state architect Ciarán O’Connor and assistant principal architect Ger Harvey, with inspiration from Irish Neolithic and western medieval architecture in the design.

The Irish pavilion is one of many that Brogan Group worked on as a part of the expo build. The company provided access solutions to build 27 national pavilions and eight public service projects, including lifting the centrepiece Al Wasl Plaza dome, which stands 130 metres wide and 67.5 metres high.

MAST CLIMBER AND HOIST ACCESS SOLUTIONS

In recent years, Brogan Group has been at the forefront of the growing demand for mast climber and hoist access solutions in the

Brogan scaffolding around the Ireland Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai Irish market, utilising its extensive experience in powered access, combined with traditional scaffolding, working on some of the most significant construction projects in each region.

Speaking about Expo 2020 Dubai, Rory Connolly, General Manager, UAE, Brogan Group, said: “It has been an honour helping build the World Expo’s celebration of unique architecture, culture and inspiring innovations across the globe, an event that has been going on for 170 years, and this year in Dubai it welcomed 192 nations. Thanks to all our team for their efforts on delivering access on such a varied and time-sensitive project.”

F O S R O C C E L E B R AT E S 50 Y E A R S IN IR E L A ND L eading construction specialist chemicals manufacturer Fosroc has just celebrated a 50-year milestone of providing solutions to the Irish construction industry, with product sales dating back to 1971.

As a global manufacturer of highperformance chemicals, Fosroc supplies a broad range of specialist building products with a focus on concrete and cement.

As sales flourished in Ireland during the 70s, Fosroc established an Irish-based salesforce. The importance of locationspecific knowledge and high availability for site inspections was recognised to ensure clients in Ireland and Northern Ireland received the highest standard of service in terms of technical product expertise, training and supply turnaround. This localised approach proved to be much more beneficial for clients.

Fosroc has been involved in many successful Irish projects over the years, with products used for industrial, public and commercial constructions, major transportation and utilities infrastructure.

Examples of iconic Irish projects where

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A Fosroc solution being applied at Dublin airport.

Fosroc supplied products include Dublin airport, Luas, Aviva Stadium, Downpatrick Racecourse, Stormont wharf and Hawlbowline jetty, Ardnacrusha dam and Parteen weir in Tipperary.

Fosroc continues to work closely with its Irish distributor network, including key partners Anchor Bay Construction Accessories, MacNaughton Blair, Murdock

Civils and Total Pipeline Specialists.

Fosroc’s comprehensive and tailored construction solutions include concrete admixtures, concrete repair and refurbishment, waterproofing, joint sealants, protective coatings, grouts and anchors, industrial flooring and cement additives.

For more details, visit www.fosroc.com

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