Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 3 May 2016

Committee on Housing and Homelessness

Construction Industry Federation

10:30 am

Photo of Maureen O'SullivanMaureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

We are hopeful we will have a Minister dedicated to housing. Mr. Parlon mentioned the issue of access, an issue which also arose at our meeting last week. Will he outline what he means by "access" from the point of view of the construction industry? What is needed to get movement on this?

My second question concerns capacity to build and the skills required. Mr. Parlon said there is no skills shortage, yet we know there has been a major fall-off in apprenticeships. How is that being resolved? I know from a previous career that apprenticeships are important for significant numbers of people and am aware of the disappointment that has existed because these apprenticeships have not come on stream in recent years. Reference was made to SOLAS. Can Mr. Parlon outline what is happening in that regard?

My third question relates to land banks and availability. Do we know how much land is available for building in the near future, how much available land is not being used for building and what capacity exists? In Mr. Parlon's experience of the industry, what are the biggest stumbling blocks to their being forward movement in this regard as soon as possible?

My last question relates to ghost estates. What is the position of the construction industry on these and what potential is there for it to make progress on them?

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