Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 9 May 2023

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government

Modern Construction Methods: Discussion (Resumed)

Mr. Tom Parlon:

Reference was made to timber frame homes. They are being maxed out at the moment. The capacity for timber frame homes is being used to the fullest extent and the rest of the homes have to be delivered without timber frame. If there was more capacity for timber frame, it would be used. That is a practical situation. It certainly speeds up delivery. It has to be cost-effective. The shortage of basic skills such as block-laying and plastering is a challenge. It is quite expensive to do that. Timber frame lends itself to the economics of doing it at the moment. The challenge is that a full modular would be equally able to offer that.