Written answers

Thursday, 10 February 2022

Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government

Housing Schemes

Photo of Cian O'CallaghanCian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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275. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of homes in relation to the rapid build housing programme that were built; the location and the person or bodies that were the main contractors on these schemes, and in view of the very serious problems that emerged in rapid build schools in a risk assessment that was carried out with regard to this programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7208/22]

Photo of Darragh O'BrienDarragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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My Department is working closely with all local authorities in relation to increasing and accelerating the delivery of a range of social housing programmes and supports, including through the use of design-build rapid delivery methodologies (including prefabricated and modular build units). Local authorities have been advised that design-build rapid delivery approaches should be adopted where appropriate to deliver social housing projects on local authority-owned land. All new dwellings (including prefabricated and modular build units) must comply with the building regulations and building control requirements and for social housing achieve a 60-year durability for all key elements.

To support delivery, the Office of Government Procurement (OGP) put in place a framework of design-build contractors in 2017. This framework which expired in February 2021, was available for all local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) to use in the interest of accelerated delivery. While some local authorities have progressed projects using the framework, the scope of works was generally limited to certain development sizes and unit types. On this basis, other local authorities have implemented their own frameworks, while some have tendered on individual projects for design-build contractors, on a case by case basis. Details relating to individual contractors can be obtained from the OGP website at the following link:

irl.eu-supply.com/ctm/Supplier/PublicTenders/ViewNotice/188926 or the relevant local authority. The Housing Delivery and Co-ordination Office and my Department are currently working with the local government sector on replacement frameworks which will operate on a regional basis and cater to a variety of development sizes and unit types, including apartments.

For the purpose of tracking social housing delivery, a Social Housing Construction Status Report (CSR) is published each quarter by my Department. This provides details of the individual social housing build projects, including design-build schemes, in the programme of each local authority. The most recent CSR publication covers the period up to the end of Quarter 3 of 2021, and is available at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/feea9-social-housing-construction-projects-status-report-q3-2021/. Since 2017, 752 units have been delivered under the Programme to Q3 2021, while there are projects in the pipeline that will deliver in excess of 1,370 units out to 2025.

Many of the issues around delivery that non-prefabricated social housing construction projects face, are also faced by design-build projects, such as preparing sites, services/access to the site, community consultation, planning, etc. There can, however, be savings in terms of programme and construction time with these advantages growing as more use is made of these frameworks and as contractors gain more experience in implementing these methods. Under this mechanism, acceleration is delivered both by the use of the design-build services of specialist contractors and reduced construction time periods due to considerable off site fabrication. As well as off-site construction providing many benefits in terms of delivery and affordability, the new frameworks will provide sustainable and durable quality housing.

Housing for All commits that the State will increase funding for residential construction related innovation and productivity. It will work with industry to strengthen the residential construction supply chain and to introduce modern methods of construction.

The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, supported by my Department, will promote a culture of innovation in residential construction. This will be achieved through, inter alia:

- Development of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC).

- Establishment of a Centre of Excellence Demonstration Park for MMC.

- Publication of exemplar case studies of MMC developments.

- Development of design for manufacture guidance for industry so that dwellings are suitable for MMC.

and

- Creation of a Government construction website to promote initiatives in construction.

This work will be underpinned by the development of Key Performance Indicators for MMC and Cost of Construction, which will be reported on quarterly. The public sector will continue to provide exemplar projects to help with the capacity building process through public tenders for innovations such as rapid delivery housing and design and development of low-carbon buildings and will support enterprises to reduce cost of materials in construction. Initiatives such as standardised design to better facilitate MMC at scale and lean construction management education will be rolled out.

My Department will continue to work with local authorities to maximise delivery and harness appropriate opportunities to deliver on additional build units, including through design-build schemes.

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