Mr. Neil Kerrigan:

To return to a matter mentioned by Mr. Christal, the disruptive technology innovation fund is a Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment fund that has been up and running for three or four years. Until the establishment of the construction sector group, the construction industry was not aware of it. Under that group, initial conversations to build awareness were undertaken with the industry. A number of companies, academics and stakeholders have come together since December 2020.

In fact, there are two interesting projects still within the disruptive technologies innovation fund. The fund allows for a major challenge to be set and for a group of industrialists and academics to come together to set a project whereby the solutions can be identified. It is disruptive. Some of the areas that Deputy Ó Broin is looking at require a disruption and this is a very conservative industry. The first rule in the industry is that safe construction is provided and health and welfare are protected. The use of certain techniques and the funds that Enterprise Ireland and other agencies have can accelerate some of these changes. Until the establishment of the construction sector group, the industry was not aware of the existence of some of these funds. By having an integrated and collaborative platform, the industry can get organised and can see the benefits involved. We want the triple helix of Government, academia and industry working together.