Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

The Government understands the major challenges facing the construction sector from high inflation, pressures on supplies, labour shortages and rising interest rates. Under Housing for All, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, supported by our Department, has established a modern methods of construction, MMC, leadership and integration group to support the development of MMC. The group also co-ordinates across the various entities that support MMC and innovation adoption, particularly in residential construction. These measures will contribute to a reduction in construction costs. This includes Construct Innovate, the national demonstration park for MMC, the build-to-innovate initiatives, the accelerated social housing delivery programme and the Build Digital project and training.

On 4 May the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, published the residential cost study report. It prioritises actions to deliver economically sustainable housing in the long term through productivity, cost reduction, standardisation, innovation and MMC. The Government also recently approved additional measures under Housing for All to incentivise the activation of increased housing supply to help to reduce housing construction costs, including the introduction of temporary time-limited arrangements for the waiving of local authority section 48 development contributions and the refunding of Uisce Éireann water and wastewater connection charges. Both of these measures have come into effect and will apply for one year to all permitted residential development that commences on site between 25 April 2023, the date of the Government decision, and 24 April 2024, and is completed not later than 31 December 2025.

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