From the editor

With its latest Housing for All measures, the government aims to increase housing completions to 35,000 units annually, with social housing a key part of that figure. Also, stipulating an increase in the use of off-site manufacturing for public homes should speed up delivery, as well as help address labour challenges and improve quality and efficiency.

One of the most significant barriers to housing roll-out is the general shortage of skilled labour. According to the Central Statistics Office figures, there were 163,200 people employed in construction in Q4 2023, a drop of 7,800 people from the 171,000 employed in the previous quarter.

In this issue of Irish Construction News, we look at some of the solutions being presented to increase output. In addition to looking at the latest government plans to support the industry, we talk to industry experts on the critical issues involved in bringing MMC centre stage for the delivery of new housing and building in a more sustainable way.

Our interviewees in this issue include internationally respected UK MMC champion Mark Farmer, who discusses the lessons learnt since the publication of his 2016 Farmer Report on the survival of the UK construction industry and growth strategies MMC producers should be pursuing.

Former Monaghan footballer turned MMC business consultant Dick Clerkin discusses the barriers MMC producers face and the need for developers and contractors to be more collaborative in their dealings with offsite manufacturers.

Parag Joglekar, Director of Investment and Development, Respond, discusses what Housing for All has meant for the AHB’s ability to deliver social housing.

Engineer John Casey, founder of CORA Consulting Engineers, explains what needs to happen for timber frame and mass timber to become a solution for delivering more houses and apartments in Ireland.

The recasting of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive recently received the support of the European Parliament. This means that mandatory whole-life carbon assessment of buildings has moved one step closer. The IGBC’s Stephen Barrett outlines how the construction sector should approach addressing whole-life carbon measurement in a consistent manner.

In Opinion, solicitor Henry Hathaway outlines the principle behind a Deed of Novation and suggests that when it comes to projects where design obligations are being transferred to the contractor, the appropriate instrument must be implemented from the start.

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

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

Regards

Robbie Cousins

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