Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The increased use of timber has an important role to play in decarbonising our built environment. Materials such as cross laminated timber (CLT) are used to construct buildings and demand is growing globally. My Department has provided funding to research the use of engineered wood products such as CLT and there are opportunities to increase the use of such materials in the buildings we construct.

The increased use of timber is important and my Department has recently established a Timber in Construction Steering Group with the main purpose to increase the use of wood in buildings and provide more sustainable homes in the future. The overarching aims of the group is to create the conditions to increase the use of timber in construction whilst ensuring the highest degree of building safety and property protection. There are a number of thematic working groups established which will examine market opportunities and the use of CLT will have a particular focus. I will be happy to provide further updates when the group has progressed its work towards the end of this year.