Results 4,121-4,140 of 9,814 for speaker:Steven Matthews

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Modern Construction Methods: Discussion (2 May 2023)

Steven Matthews: I am aware that everybody is up to their eyes at work. Everybody's workload is immense and the issue is huge. We do not want to rush into this and find out in ten years' time that we rushed that in order to try to make up a short bit. From what I have heard, I sense there is something missing. I still cannot understand what it is. Mr. O'Connor mentioned the volume the OPW would need to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Modern Construction Methods: Discussion (2 May 2023)

Steven Matthews: You can go to three-storey volumetric but anything above that would be-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Modern Construction Methods: Discussion (2 May 2023)

Steven Matthews: That is interesting because I was wondering if we could go to somewhere that is years ahead of us on this and say we will take its standard, risk assessment and what it has done, and transpose that to our own situation. If one is using Irish timber, does it have the same characteristics as Polish timber or German timber?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Modern Construction Methods: Discussion (2 May 2023)

Steven Matthews: It would.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Modern Construction Methods: Discussion (2 May 2023)

Steven Matthews: Are architecture students in UCD or Trinity at the moment learning how to build with timber as part of their architectural studies?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Modern Construction Methods: Discussion (2 May 2023)

Steven Matthews: A niche kind of thing. That is where it is going.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Modern Construction Methods: Discussion (2 May 2023)

Steven Matthews: I want to ask the representatives from Coillte about timber production. We hear a lot about licensing issues in forestry and the shortage of ecologists to look at licensing. I am interested in the supply chain of timber that we will need over the next 20 to 30 years. What was the figure that the witnesses referenced in total construction grade timber produced?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Modern Construction Methods: Discussion (2 May 2023)

Steven Matthews: We produced 700,000 cu. m?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Modern Construction Methods: Discussion (2 May 2023)

Steven Matthews: Is the supply chain in place - solid and good - for the next while?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Modern Construction Methods: Discussion (2 May 2023)

Steven Matthews: When we talk about the timber that is suitable for construction, we have referred to the C16 strength reference, for example. I mention the likes of Sitka spruce, which has a poor reputation in this country but we probably misplanted it and there are legacy issues. Is that the type of timber that is suitable for construction? It is quite good at carbon sequestration. Is that the kind of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Modern Construction Methods: Discussion (2 May 2023)

Steven Matthews: I will move to SOLAS and the issue of the site workers and the chain of workers we will need over the next two to three decades. Modular and off-site construction open up a range of types of jobs that would not have been conventional building site type jobs. I am talking about design work and working indoors where it is not wet or lashing rain on top of you like it is on some sites. Is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Modern Construction Methods: Discussion (2 May 2023)

Steven Matthews: I have one more question about the employment aspect and then I will move on to the type of energy used in modular buildings. I can see the desire in some quarters to say we should shorten the apprenticeship. We would end up with a kind of modularised construction worker because these things are flat-pack. They can be put together, plug and play as was said, as regards much of the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Modern Construction Methods: Discussion (2 May 2023)

Steven Matthews: On vertical extensions and building with wood, where a conventional block building is built on a foundation, the foundations may not be suitable for adding two more storeys onto the concrete building. A vertical extension built with timber would be lighter so the foundations may be suitable. Does that run foul of current regulations or standards? Could I put two timber-built storeys on top...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Modern Construction Methods: Discussion (2 May 2023)

Steven Matthews: It is possible and those kinds of jobs can be done within regulations and standards at the moment.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Modern Construction Methods: Discussion (2 May 2023)

Steven Matthews: Even though it would be only of that height in timber because it is built above a two-storey property?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Modern Construction Methods: Discussion (2 May 2023)

Steven Matthews: We will put it to the working group to work that one out.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Modern Construction Methods: Discussion (2 May 2023)

Steven Matthews: Unless anybody else has any questions or further comments, I thank everyone for their attendance, which has been very helpful. Next week, we will meet architects and others involved in design. We will try to put together a fairly brief report of recommendations.

Historic and Archaeological Heritage Bill 2023 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (27 Apr 2023)

Steven Matthews: I commend the Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, on the work he and his officials have done on the Bill. Throughout the House it is recognised that we have in the Minister of State with responsibility for heritage somebody who is deeply committed and has spent a lifetime trying to protect heritage, cultural heritage and nature. He is now doing this throughout the country in his role as...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Change Policy (27 Apr 2023)

Steven Matthews: 139. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will report on the work his Department is doing to reduce emissions from the energy sector in the context of our climate action targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19150/23]

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Job Losses (27 Apr 2023)

Steven Matthews: 233. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the actions he will take regarding the layoff of Irish-based staff by a multinational company (details supplied) to ensure fairness in the redundancy process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20008/23]